Rumour Mill: Celtic eye Sebastien Pocognoli | Lille want van Dijk

Sebastien Pocognoli has fallen out of favour at West Brom. Picture: Getty

Hoops linked with Pocognoli

CELTIC have been linked with out-of-favour West Brom defender Sebastien Pocognoli, with reports the Hoops have been monitoring the Belgian stopper.

The former Standard Liege left back signed for the Baggies from Hannover 96 in the summer of 2014 but appears to have fallen out of favour at the Hawthorns.

The 28-year-old, who has also had spells at Genk and AZ Alkmaar is believed to be available for a modest fee. (Various)

Lille, Stoke join chase for van Dijk

LOSC Lille and Stoke are believed to have entered the race for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.

The French side and the Potters are the latest clubs to join the chase for the Dutch stopper, with Southampton still keeping tabs on van Dijk’s situation.

But Stoke are set to test Celtic’s resolve with a bid for the former Groningen defender. (Express)

Celtic 3 Malmo 2: Berget comes back to haunt Hoops

CELTIC will be sweating ahead of next week’s clash in Sweden after Malmo left Glasgow with two vital away goals thanks to ex-Hoops player Jo Inge Berget.

The bearded Berget struck a second goal five minutes into stoppage time to keep the tie alive after two goals from Leigh Griffiths and a third from Nir Bitton had given Celtic a commanding lead.

And Malmo boss Age Hareide claimed Celtic lost that second goal because of their fitness levels. (Various)

READ MORE from The Scotsman on Celtic 3 Malmo 2

• Celtic 3 Malmo 2: Match report

• Andrew Smith: Berget exacted revenge on Celtic

• Alan Patullo: Griffiths is the striker to trust

• Deila defiant despite late goal

Celtic ‘looked tired’ before late goal, insists Malmo boss

AGE Hareide has stoked the fire ahead of the second leg between Malmo and Celtic by claiming Celtic looked tired.

He told STV: “At 2-1 we had control of the match and Celtic looked tired. We saw against Inverness that [Celtic] do not have the legs for 90 minutes.

“We have a very good chance to beat them at home now and we only need one goal.” (STV)

Celtic scouting No 2 quizzed over van Dijk comments

CELTIC’s assistant chief scout David Moss is facing questions from the club’s hierarchy over comments he made regarding the sale of Virgil van Dijk.

Both Ronny Deila and Peter Lawwell have insisted the Dutchman is going nowhere until at least the matches against Malmo are over.

But Moss told a website that van Dijk would be sold for at least £12 million before the transfer window slams shut - and it is now understood that Celtic chiefs have demanded an explanation from Moss. (The Sun)

Warburton blasts Stubbs over money comments

MARK Warburton has hit out at Hibs boss Alan Stubbs - for saying the ex-Brentford boss had a ‘very easy’ job in rebuilding Rangers given the money at his disposal.

Warburton, who saw his team defeat Ayr 2-0 last night in the Petrofac Training Cup, said: “Clearly, it must be easy managing Manchester United and Real Madrid, then, I guess.

“I would suggest that any manager without the facts keeps his mouth shut and concentrates on his own club and doesn’t worry about ours. That’s the key point for me. Right now we are very respectful to every other club and every other manager.

“I know what we’ve spent and [what Stubbs claimed] is a complete fallacy. Is it mind games? I’m not the brightest man in the world but it’ll take a lot more than that to wind me up, that’s for sure.” (The Scotsman)

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Kenny Shiels is back in Scotland, barely three months after leaving to manage in Thailand

• Jon Daly has not ruled out a return to Dundee United. The Irish forward is a free agent since being released by Rangers in the summer

• Elgin pulled off something of a shock last night, dumping Championship side Alloa out of the Petrofac Training Cup in extra time

• Southampton are keeping tabs on Dundee United starlet Harry Souttar

• Dundee co-owner Tim Keyes reckons strict UK laws are preventing an influx of millions of pounds into Scottish football, claiming that visa rules are stopping US players from easily playing in the UK and boosting TV audiences stateside

• Hull City are reportedly keen on bringing Shaun Maloney back to England from Chicago Fire

Rumour Mill: Celtic eye Sebastien Pocognoli | Lille want van Dijk | Mark Warburton