Rumour Mill: Alireza Jahanbakhsh | Celtic | Rangers Newcastle loan players

Alireza Jahanbakhsh is reportedly a target for Celtic. Picture: AFP/Getty

Celtic linked with NEC Nijmegen’s Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh as Emilio Izaguirre faces club v country dilemma plus Rangers report losses of £2.6m and could pay up to £500k for Newcastle loan players

Hoops keeping tabs on Jahanbakhsh

CELTIC are reportedly interested in NEC Nijmegen winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

The 21-year-old Iranian international has scored 17 goals in 54 games for the Dutch outfit and can play on the left and the right, and he is close to the final 12 months of a three-year deal at Nijmegen.

He moved to the Netherlands in July 2013, and was named Runner-up to Dutch international Memphis Depay as the Eredivisie’s Greatest Talent of the Season for the 2013/14 campaign.

The Hoops have had Jahanbakhsh watched and are monitoring the situation. (Daily Record)

Rangers could pay £500k for loan signings

Rangers could be forced to pay £500,000 for five Newcastle loan signings made during the transfer window should they gain promotion to the top flight of Scottish football this season.

A statement released by the club to the stock exchange this morning read: “During the January 2015 transfer window, the Club loaned five players from Newcastle United. As part of those contracts, should the Club gain promotion in season 2014/15, either directly or via the play-off method, the Club will be liable to pay a total of £500,000 to Newcastle United Football Company Limited.”

Newcastle players Haris Vuckic, Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu, English defender Remie Streete, Northern Ireland cap Shane Ferguson and England Under-20 midfielder Gael Bigirimana all joined the Ibrox club in January. (The Scotsman)

Rangers announce £2,6m losses

RANGERS have announced losses of £2.6 million for the six months until 31 December 2014.

Interim chairman Paul Murray said: “The new Board’s focus is on the future. We are in the process of developing a business and funding plan which will help us rebuild the club and ensure it enjoys football and commercial success in the future.

“We will work closely with our shareholders, supporters and other stakeholders to achieve our vision of building a modern football club founded on our traditional values and standards.”

Mr Murray added that the recovery process would take time, but insisted that the board are ‘confident of success’.

The club also revealed that 24,589 season tickets had been sold by the end of last year, while the average home league attendance of 32,231 was the 13th highest in the UK. (The Scotsman)

Rogic returns for Celtic

AUSTRALIAN midfielder Tom Rogic played 45 minutes of Celtic’s development league match with Motherwell yesterday.

Rogic had been on loan in his homeland with Melbourne Victory. (Various)

Izaguirre faces club v country dilemma

CELTIC left-back Emilio Izaguirre faces a club v country dilemma in the summer as Honduras have qualified for the Gold Cup in July.

And the fixtures are set to clash with Celtic’s European campaign kicking off. (The Sun)

Sinnamon hopeful of new Rangers deal

RANGERS starlet Ryan Sinnamon is hopeful of securing a new deal at Ibrox.

The 18-year-old right-back wants to help Scotland Under-19s to a win over Croatia to seal Ricky Sbragia’s place in the Euro finals, and then sort out a new deal at Ibrox. (Various)

Strachan: We’re going to Dublin to win

SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan has promised that the team will go for the win in Dublin.

The Republic of Ireland snatched a late draw with Poland after Scotland’s 6-1 win over Gibraltar, leaving the top of Group D as close as possible, with Poland on 11 points and Germany and Scotland on 10 apiece.

Martin O’Neill’s men are on eight points. (Various)

Brora Rangers concerned at promotion chances

BRORA Rangers have said they will try to get through the promotion play-offs despite having no desire to play senior football.

The Highland League outfit face a play-off with Edinburgh City, with the winner playing the bottom-placed team in League Two.

But Brora have expressed concern over the financial implications of travelling further distances and getting players out of work to play matches. (Various)