The Rumour Mill: Van Djik | Finnbogason | Rangers AGM

Virgil Van Djik says he is finding it difficult to adapt to life in Glasgow but is committed to Celtic, Neil Lennon will have to lure Finnbogason away from the Premiership if he is to land the striker and the fall-out from yesterday’s AGM at Ibrox continues.

Virgil Van Dijk in action for Celtic against Barcelona in the Champions League. Picture: SNS

Virgil Van Djik struggling to adapt to life in Glasgow

The Dutch defender gave an interview to a football magazine in his homeland in which he outlined the challenges of playing and living in the

Glasgow footballing goldfish bowl.

Quotes of note:

• On his meeting with a Rangers fan: “A strange man offered me his hand. He said ‘Virgil, you’re a terrific player but I hate you.”

• On shopping: “Our apartment has a great view but we seldom go outside. We have our shopping delivered. You can’t drink the tap water here, so this way we avoid having to carry the bottles of mineral water up the stairs.”

• On Celtic fans: “Celtic fans are great so long as things are going well. If your performances dip they will let you know. I should not have played against Karagandy as I was not fully fit. It turned out to be a terrible night. I couldn’t sleep and the social media exploded.”

• On his future: “The game in Scotland is very physical. But I have got to play in the Champions League. This is something you can only do when you play for a top club. Glasgow is a world class city. I would like to stay over here for quite a while longer.”

Finnbogason in England club plea

Celtic target Alfred Finnbogason has expressed his desire to play in England and described the English Premiership as the “promised land”.

Manager Neil Lennon flew out to Holland to watch the £5m rated striker play for Heerenveen against Alkmaar in their mid-week cup tie.

They face competition from West Ham though with Sam Allardyce having the 24 year-old watched in recent weeks.

The Parkhead club are in need of a striker following their lacklustre Champions League campaign and the departure of Gary Hooper to Norwich. (Sun)

• However Neil Lennon was impressed by AZ Alkmaar striker Aron Johansson who scored two goals against Heerenveen. The US international is valued at around £2.4m (Record)

Teemu Pukki hoping to build on confidence

Celtic striker Teemu Pukki is hoping to build on his strike against Hibs by bagging another against Hearts when the two teams meet at Parkhead tomorrow.

The Finnish hitman had not scored since September and had begun to feel the heat from supporters.

He said: “It was a big thing for me to get a goal against Hibs. Undoubtedly that will help my confidence for the games that are coming up. “

RANGERS AGM: KEY POINTS

• Paul Murray, Malcolm Murray, Scot Murdoch and Alex Wilson fail in bid to be voted onto board

• Result of boardroom changes expected Thursday afternoon/ Friday morning

• Chief executive Graham Wallace says operating costs currently “too high”

• AGM told club has “sufficient cash to continue to trade in the short term”

• Cost of season tickets expected to rise next season

Murray fires parting shot at Stockbridge

Paul Murray hit out once more at Rangers financial director Brian Stockbridge criticising the chartered accountant’s management of the club’s finances and his alleged leaking of a video online of his fellow requisitioner Paul Murray which appeared to show him drunk. (Scotsman)

Lazio deny Samaras interest

Georgios Samaras looks unlikely to be moving to Serie A side Lazio after the club’s sporting director Igli Tare told a fan website that the Greek international was not on his shortlist in the January transfer window. (Scotsman)

Jim Jefferies signs new Dunfermline contract

Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies has signed a new two-year deal with the East End Park club that could be his final management contract after a career spanning four decades. The former Hearts boss will finish his deal, back-dated to September, in the summer of 2015. (Scotsman)

Aberdeen sign up Cammy Smith

Aberdeen forward Cammy Smith has signed a contract extension with the Pittodrie club until the Summer of 2017. The Scotland Under-19 international has made 9 first appearances for the Dons this season after netting his first goal for the club against Inverness last season.

• Manager Derek McInnes however will have to do without defender Michael Hector who is returning to his home club Reading in January (Scotsman )

IN BRIEF

• Malky Mackay looks on his way out of Cardiff City after a report emerged that he had been told to resign or be sacked by owner Vincent Tan following rising tensions between the two

• Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnson expected to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window as the Ayrshire club look to lift themselves from third bottom in the table

• Patrick face a wait to see if Brentford striker Farid El Alagui will be joining them on loan after Uwe Rosler was sacked as manager

• Ryan Esson has signed a new player-coaching deal with Inverness Caledonian Thistle that will see him through to the Summer of 2016

• Motherwell face a battle to keep hold of Henri Anier for the rest of the season following his impressive loan form for the Fir Park club. The 23 year-old is on loan from Norwegian side Viking Stavanger with the short-term deal set to expire next month.

• St Mirren trialists David Cornell and Stephane Bahoken have left the Paisley club