Rumour Mill: Finnbogason | Samaras

Celtic's Georgios Samaras celebrates scoring against Kilmarnock in September. Picture: Robert Perry

Samaras to miss Turkey trip over contract talks

GEORGIOS Samaras will not travel with the Celtic squad to their mid-season tournament in Turkey as he makes a decision over whether to stay at Parkhead.

The Greek international has been offered a new deal, but has been linked with clubs in the English top flight as well as teams across Europe.

Neil Lennon said: “Georgios is 29 so the next three or four years of his career are important. We’d like him to be here but it may not be the case.” (Record)

Finnbogason ‘doesn’t want to leave Holland’

CELTIC’S hopes of signing Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason have taken a hit after the Heerenveen star revealed how much he is enjoying working with manager Marco van Basten.

Finnbogason, the leading scorer in the Netherlands this season, said: “The manager’s taught me so much and added a lot to my game.

“To score so many goals shows I can still do it. I don’t think I could leave a manager like that.” (Record)

Nottingham Forest eyeing Boyd bid

FORMER club Nottingham Forest are reportedly considering a bid for Kilmarnock’s Kris Boyd.

Boyd, who has scored 12 goals this season, had a ten-game loan spell at Forest in 2011 in which he scored six goals.

The former Scotland star’s contract at Rugby Park expires this summer. (Sun)

McNamara can’t wait for window to close

DUNDEE United boss Jackie McNamara has admitted he will be glad to see the back of the January transfer window, as his young stars draw yet more attention from big-name clubs.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez made a personal trip to Tannadice to watch the clutch of teenage prodigies in action, and McNamara is keen to keep them all in place in Dundee.

He said: “We are going to get this for the next three weeks or so. For me it’s important that we keep them all. This is the best place for their progression.” (Express)

McCoist laughs off Stenhousemuir striker’s slam

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist has claimed he has no hard feelings over Stenhousemuir striker John Gemmell’s Twitter outburst against him.

Gemmell wrote: “(The) game against Stenny should be midweek? Why, so… your boys can lie and get a massage for three days before checking their £5k a week wages are in?”

McCoist said: “The concerning thing was that about 60 per cent of our dressing room agreed with him! Listen... I’m certainly not going to throw the toys out of the pram. I have been called worse.” (Various)

We’re pretty much safe, says Partick boss Archibald

ALLAN Archibald has claimed his team have more or less beaten the drop already this season, after moving 20 points clear of bottom club Hearts.

Archibald said: “I would be very disappointed if we gave those 20 points up.

“Hopefully, this victory gives us the confidence to look at the teams above us, because a few of them could be dragged down towards us a bit.” (Mail)

IN OTHER NEWS

• Video of former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura knocking the bride and groom figures off a wedding cake on a Japanese TV show has been viewed nearly 200,000 times in less than a week. Watch the video in the player. (Reddit)

• NEIL Lennon has confirmed that Celtic will look to take up the one-year option on Kris Commons’ contract, keeping the star at Celtic Park until 2015. (Scotsman)

• Kilmarnock have released Nigerian duo Reuben Gabriel and Ibrahim Rabiu, while agreeing deals to keep loan stars Jackson Irvine and Michael Gardyne until the end of the season. (Express)

Rumour Mill: Finnbogason | Samaras | Kris Boyd