Rumour Mill:van Dijk | Rangers | Scotland

Virgil van Dijk pictured at Amsterdam Schiphol airport with the Netherlands national side. Picture: AFP

Arsenal eye Dutch of class with van Dijk

ANOTHER day, another English Premier League club linked with Virgil van Dijk.

This time it’s Arsenal, who reportedly missed out on the Dutch defender on transfer deadline day with a late bid.

However, the Gunners will bide their time until January, and attempt to prise van Dijk from Celtic then.

Left out of the squad to face Dundee in the 1-1 draw between the two sides, van Dijk was described as a vital player for Celtic by Ronny Deila.

But with the 23-year-old seemingly unhappy at Celtic, Arsene Wenger could match Celtic’s asking price in January in an attempt to shore up his defence. (Mail on Sunday)

Rangers face SPFL action if wages unpaid

RANGERS will be hit with SPFL action if they fail to pay their playing squad and coaching staff at the end of the month.

Ex-director Imran Ahmad’s court victory on Friday froze iver £600,000 of the club’s £1.2 million cash reserves, leaving the club struggling to fulfil payroll commitments.

Rules brought in after Hearts’ crisis means Rangers will be hit with an instant registration embargo if they default on payments - and the Gers could face further sanctions including being docked points or exclusion from the league.

Ibrox staff are due to be paid on September 25th, but sources believe the club could be cutting it fine with a monthly cost of around £700,000 to meet. (Sunday Mail)

Low warns Germany to treat Scots with respect

GERMANY coach Joachim Low has urged his World Cup winners to treat Scotland with respect - just days after Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski claimed it would be a ‘dirty’ game in Dortmund.

Low said: “Scotland don’t play with a British style these days. They try to play good football and are very well organised.

“They have quality players and nothing to lose so will play with no fear.”

And the Germany boss singled out Ikechi Anya, Shaun Maloney, Darren Fletcher and Steven Naismith as Scotland’s danger men.

He added: “I am really looking forward to seeing the Scottish fans and especially when we go to Glasgow. They give great support.” (Sun on Sunday)

Lustig backs Guidetti to shine

MIKAEL Lustig has backed his compatriot John Guidetti to shine for Celtic after the Manchester City youngster secured his Hoops switch.

Speaking to celticfc.net, the full back said: “He has been trying to secure a starting place at Manchester City but everyone knows how hard it is to get a striking place there.

”When he went on loan to Feyenoord, he showed how good a striker he is and that he can score a lot of goals, and hopefully he can get a good start here as well.

Lustig added: “He’s a strong striker who works really hard. I feel he will suit us perfectly. He has a really good opportunity here. People think you can just go to Celtic and score a lot of goals but we have seen a lot of strikers who haven’t managed that. But he has everything in his locker to make it here.” (Various)

Biton urged Scepovic to join Celtic

NEW Celtic striker Stefan Scepovic has revealed that former Ashdod team-mate Nir Biton convinced him to join Celtic.

The Serbian said: “I know Nir well, I’m very close to him. I was on the phone to him over the weekend and he was very happy when I eventually signed.

“He told me great things about Celtic but I knew this already.”

And Scepovic warned against painting him as a 25-goal striker like Gary Hooper, adding: “I’ll do my speaking on the pitch where I have to do my job. I don’t want to promise anything.” (Scotland on Sunday)

Rumour Mill:van Dijk | Rangers | Scotland | Celtic