Celtic target 24y/o internationalist, Rangers' big wages admission, Hearts' plans for window - Scottish transfers
Celtic continue their hunt for Taylor competition - but activity is less likely at rivals right now
Wijndal emerges as Celtic target
Celtic's pursuit of a new left-back is ongoing, with Ajax's Owen Wijndal the latest name to be linked with the Scottish Premiership champions.
Greg Taylor continues to be the club's first-choice option in that area but since Alexandro Bernabei's departure earlier this year, the Scotland internationalist is the only senior left-back in the Celtic squad. Manager Brendan Rodgers is looking for further depth in that area and Wijndal, a 24-year-old from Ajax, has emerged as a transfer target.
Wijndal has won 11 caps for Netherlands and according to Sky Sports, Ajax would be prepared to listen to offers for him. The former AZ Alkmaar player spent last season on loan at Royal Antwerp in Belgium and is also being monitored by German side Werder Bremen.
Hearts happy with business
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith does not anticipate much more transfer business after the arrival of Andres Salazer took the Jambos' summer incomings to nine. The Colombian left-back, who could make his debut in this afternoon's Premier Sports Cup tie at Falkirk, joins Ryan Fulton, Gerald Taylor, James Penrice, Daniel Oyegoke, Malachi Boateng, Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda and Musa Drammeh through the entrance door at Tynecastle.
Naismith is comfortable with his squad right now. "It'll be quite quiet," he said of the rest of the transfer window. "I can't sit here and say nobody will definitely leave and nobody will come in but we're not desperately looking for anything. We're not at the moment looking to go right. we need to get this player in or that player in but I wouldn't rule it out."
Clement candid on wage bill
Rangers manager Philippe Clement says the club has to get its wage bill down and that certain players are aware that they no longer have a first-team future at Ibrox. The Belgian is undergoing a rebuild of the club and while he has brought in a host of new signings, further incomings are likely to be dependent on who leaves between now and August 30.
"It's clear for everybody that some players want to go," said Clement. "That some players clearly said, been said to months ago before the pre-season started that they would not be part of the project because of circumstances like wages. We need to lower the amount of wages. It was too expensive last season for the club. So that's also one part of the story. So they know, but they're still here. I can do more about that. Everybody's working two weeks really hard to do the right things. I don't have a crystal ball. I wish I had, but I don't."
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.