Rumour Mill: Celtic eye Mitchell Dijks | Guidetti | Hibs

Celtic linked with £900k move for Dutch defender Mitchell Dijks as Everton step up chase for Virgil van Dijk; John Guidetti escapes ban for ‘Huns are deid’ song and Alan Stubbs insists it wouldn’t be the end of the world if Hibs failed to finish second
Mitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: GettyMitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: Getty
Mitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: Getty

Celtic target Mitchell Dijks in £900k swoop

CELTIC have been linked with a move for Willem II stopper Mitchell Dijks, who is priced at £900,000.

The 22-year-old left back, who can also operate at centre back, won the Dutch title with Ajax in the 2012/13 season, before joining Tilburg outfit Willem II.

Mitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: GettyMitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: Getty
Mitchell Dijks in action for Willem II. Picture: Getty
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With just 12 months left on his current deal, 6ft 4in Dijks is understood to feature highly on Ronny Deila’s summer shopping list. (The Sun)

Toffees keen on van Dijk

EVERTON are reportedly planning a bid for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.

The 23-year-old stopper has been identified as a possible replacement for Antolin Alcaraz or Sylvain Distin, and could partner Phil Jagielka in the Toffees back four.

Van Dijk has been priced at £8 million by Celtic, and Everton could face competition from Sunderland, Arsenal and Southampton. (Various)

Ashley dodges Rangers grilling during Scotland trip

RANGERS shareholder Mike Ashley avoided questions about his involvement in the Ibrox club during a flying visit to Scotland yesterday.

The Sports Direct supremo travelled north to open a refurbished outlet in Glasgow, in his first visit since his £10 million loan offer to Rangers.

But Ashley reportedly dodged questions from reporters about his plans for Rangers and he climbed into a waiting people carrier before speeding off. (The Sun)

Guidetti escapes ban over ‘Huns are deid’ song

CELTIC striker John Guidetti has been found guilty by the SFA of making an ‘offensive’ comment towards Rangers.

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The Swedish international avoided a fine or suspension for his breach of SFA rules and was instead censured by the panel.

Guidetti was cited for singing a song which refers to Rangers as “huns” during an interview with Dutch TV show FC Rijnmond in March.

Asked to recite the lyrics of a song the Celtic support have sung about him this season, the 23-year-old sang: “Oh John Guidetti, puts the ball in the net-y, he’s a Super Swede and the huns are deid, walking in Guidetti wonderland.”

The “huns are deid” line is a mocking reference to Rangers’ financial collapse and liquidation in 2012. Supporters of the Ibrox club regard the term“hun” as sectarian and some of them have campaigned to have it recognised as such. (The Scotsman)

McCall backs ‘fit and proper’ King

RANGERS boss Stuart McCall is confident that Dave King will be passed fit and proper by the Scottish FA.

Hampden chiefs are set to decide in the near future whether King can take up his role as Rangers chairman.

He ousted the Ibrox board in March but still has to convince the SFA that he satisfies their fit and proper guidelines.

McCall said: “I think he will get his clearance. That’s just my instinct.” (Daily Mail)

Stubbs calm over play-off fight

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ALAN Stubbs has admitted finishing third in the Championship table “wouldn’t be the end of the world”, but urged his players to go one better by clinching second place.

While second place means two fewer play-off games to be negotiated, Stubbs insisted the main objective of just having a stab at promotion had already been achieved.

The head coach said: “At the end of the day finishing third is not the end of the world. We have to make this point.

“We would like to finish in second but if, for whatever reason, it does not happen we have still achieved the main aim and that was to finish in the play-offs.” (Evening News)

Legia bid for Celtic compensation fails

LEGIA Warsaw have failed in their fight for compensation for lost revenue relating to the decision to kick them out of the Champions League at replace them with Celtic.

Legia thrashed the Hoops 6-1 on aggregate at the start of the 2014/15 season, but fielded an ineligible player in the second leg, resulting in Celtic being awarded the match 3-0 and thus the tie on aggregate.

Legia appealed the decision but failed to gain re-entry, and have been fighting ever since for compensation ‘from a lack of Champions League football’.

The Court for Arbitration for Sport rejected their latest appeal and they are now effectively out of options. (Various)

News in brief

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• Rangers manager Stuart McCall has called for a shake-up of the disciplinary regulations, insisting that the current rules on play-off bookings favours the top-tier clubs

• Terry Butcher has been installed as the new manager of Newport County

• Kris Commons has claimed that Aberdeen were ‘never a threat’ to Celtic’s title challenge

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