Celtic prepare Ajeti appeal, Rangers 'made inquiry' for Chelsea starlet, Livingston denial, Elvis to touch down in Ayrshire? - Scottish Premiership Rumour Mill

A Europa League football lies on the field before the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 Group D football match between Rangers FC and Lech Poznan at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on October 29, 2020. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

After a set of midweek matches today is moving day – when attention turns from the fall-out from the Tuesday and Wednesday night encounters and starts to look ahead to the weekend’s games.

The Championship starts in earnest tonight, at Ayr United, where Hearts are the visitors to Somerset Park, and finishes on Sunday lunchtime with Rangers at Hamilton – a club not far from the headlines over their commentators ‘toilet humour’ gaffe.

Friday is usually press conference day too so more updates will be expected to filter out from around the country as teams and managers preview the weekend’s fixtures – check who the referee for your team’s game is here – throughout the day.

And while transfer window may now be over until June, teams can still do deals for out-of-contract players and agree pre-contracts.Clubs below the Premiership can also fix-up loan deals from the top-flight or divisions above their own.

Livingston denial

Livingston have denied any wrongdoing over their pre-match meal in an Aberdeen restaurant ahead of the midweek win over Derek McInnes’ Dons. The Lions are sponsored by Tony Macaroni and ate in one of the group’s venues in the Granite City and the club responded to reports that a probe into their visit to the venue would begin. They say the relevant authorities knew and the team stayed within the guidelines for “the purposes of professional sports”. (The Scotsman)

Elvis in Ayrshire

The King’s only visit to British shores occurred a few miles down the road at Prestwick Airport but Elvis could be pitching up at Kilmarnock. Steven Pressley has emerged as a contender for the vacant Kilmarnock job after Alex Dyer’s exit last weekend. Former Killie striker, and Dundee boss, Jim McIntyre is also in the frame while reports have linked Tommy Wright, Stephen Robinson, Gary Holt and Neil McCann to the vacancy. (Scottish Sun)

Loan interest

Rangers held an interest in taking former youth prospect Billy Gilmour back to Ibrox on loan for the second half of the season. The young midfielder had a rocky start to the Thomas Tuchel era at Chelsea, being left out of the new manager’s first squad before winning him over after strong training performances at Cobham. Leicester are said to have made a play for the youngster at the end of last month, while West Ham were also a suggested destination for the Scottish under-21 who ended up remaining at Stamford Bridge. Rangers ‘made third-party enquiries’ with former Blues boss Frank Lampard according to ‘Ibrox sources’. (Football Insider)

Scott the lot

Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore is looking forward to working with Celtic youngster Scott Robertson – ‘a lovely footballer’ – and giving him game time. The boss took the midfielder to Yorkshire on loan on Monday and says the club had previously made moves for him. (Yorkshire Post)

NYC - part I

Rangers youngster Nathan Young-Coombes could be on his way out of Ibrox. The former England youth international is close to sealing a pre-contract move to Brentford after failing to make the breakthrough into the first-team picture with Steven Gerrard. He would sign up with former Hearts midfielder and Falkirk coach Neil Macfarlane who runs the Londoners’ B-team. (Daily Record)

Hearts make right moves

Robbie Neilson will speak to right-winger Josh Ginnelly over his future and discuss a potential permanent move to Tyencastle for the popular player, on loan from Preston – but only once his injury has cleared up. (Edinburgh Evening News)

NYC - part II

Cameron Harper could also be an Old Firm departure and his long-mooted move to New York Red Bulls could be completed shortly. The youngster was drafted into the first-team during Celtic’s post-Dubai coronavirus isolation issues but has found appearances hard to come by at Parkhead and a transfer fee agreed (MLS)

Appealing prospect

Celtic are ready to contest the two-game ban charge levelled at striker Albian Ajeti after the midweek win over Kilmarnock. The former West Ham forward won a penalty for the visitors at Rugby Park that was despatched by Odsonne Edouard, but after reviewing the incident the SFA disciplinary process has hit the Swiss striker with a ban offer. If Celtic appeal the punishment he could be free to play Motherwell this weekend. (Various)

Move again

Millwall manager Gary Rowett won’t rule out another move for Hibs defender Ryan Porteous. The London club made a £1m bid for the Scotland under-21 international, whoch was rejected at Easter Road but the player remains of interest. Rowett has revealed his club saw “real potential” in Porteous and won’t rule out a potential return for the centre-back in the summer window. They’re also keen on Allan Campbell at Motherwell (Edinburgh Evening News)

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.