Rumour Mill: Caixinha cost Rangers a fortune | Premiership stars to make Scotland debuts | Cascarino fires back at critics
Caixinha cost Rangers over McKay deal
Pedro Caixinha cost Rangers at least £500,000 in Barrie McKay’s transfer to Nottingham Forest, according to the player’s agent. Grant Smith insists the English Championship club would have willing to spend at least double the £500k they paid for the player if Caixinha hadn’t made it abundantly clear he didn’t want the Scottish international. (Daily Record)
- Caixinha has turned down the chance to make a return to management with former club Santos Laguna. (Daily Record)
Wallace’s recovery
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Hide AdLee Wallace may not return to first-team action with Rangers until the new year. The club captain suffered a groin injury in a match with Partick Thistle in September and has recently been told he’s only halfway through his long recovery. (Scottish Sun)
Tony Cascarino hits back
Tony Cascarino has branded the Scottish top flight the weakest in Europe as the ex-Celtic striker tried to justify his claims that the club’s unbeaten record meant nothing. The pundit made a series of factual errors as he spoke on Jim White’s talkSPORT show, including claiming that no team in Scotland spent money on players other than Celtic this summer. (Various)
Premiership three to get debuts
Malky Mackay is set to hand Scotland debuts to three Scottish Premiership stars. Celtic’s Callum McGregor will be rewarded for his good form over the past year with a place in the starting XI. Joining him will be Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack, who’s likely to cover at right-back, and Aberdeen’s on-loan Celtic playmaker Ryan Christie. (Scottish Sun)
Laszlo better for Hearts experience
Csaba Laszlo is back in Scottish football and the new Dundee United manager believes he is a better coach now than when he guided Hearts to third place in the top flight eight years ago. Laszlo, who succeeds Ray McKinnon, has signed a deal until summer 2019 and is entrusted with the task of leading United back to the Premiership. (The Scotsman)
Van Dijk coaching Bitton
Virgil van Dijk has revealed he’s been trying to coach up former team-mate Nir Bitton as the Israeli midfielder fills in for Celtic at centre-back. The two have remained friends since van Dijk’s 2015 move to Southampton and the Dutch international has regularly been in touch to offer advice on how to play the position. (Daily Record)
St Johnstone loyalty
They have become known as a model of stability in Scottish football in recent years, combining top six finishes with fiscal rectitude. Now St Johnstone have been found to have among the most loyal players in Europe, with first team regulars remaining at McDiarmid Park for just under four years on average. The Perth club topped the league for player loyalty in Scotland and is among the top 10 across the continent (The Scotsman)
Van Bronckhorst odds plummet
Odds on Giovanni van Bronckhorst becoming the next manager of Rangers have plummeted to just 2/1. The ex-Rangers full-back has jumped ahead of the likes of Graeme Murty and Steve McClaren, sitting second behind leading contender Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes. (Scottish Sun)