Rumour Mill: John Guidetti | Rangers | Celtic

RONNY Deila has told John Guidetti he won’t be part of his plans; Celtic are set to snub bids for Virgil Van Dijk; Kenny Black warns Rangers they must deal with the pressure of the play-offs to end disastrous Dumfries record and more in Thursday’s Rumour Mill

Deila has told John Guidetti he is no longer part of his plans. Picture: John Devlin

Ronny Deila has told John Guidetti he won’t be part of his plans

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has told the Daily Mail that he is planning for life without striker John Guidetti ahead of the summer transfer window.

Guidetti’s contract at City is set to expire this summer, meaning teams are eyeing up bargain moves to sign the striker on a free transfer.

Deila has told John Guidetti he is no longer part of his plans. Picture: John Devlin

“I don’t think he knows himself what he wants to do,” said Deila. “We are very calm with the situation. If he wants to stay then he needs to come to me and say he wants to do it. If not, we have to move on and try to get somebody else.”

“I said to him in February that the offer was being taken away and he has to tell us if he’s changed his mind. It’s not like I need to know because I’m making my plans anyway. We are planning without him,” he added. (HITC)

Celtic are set to snub bids for Virgil Van Dijk

Ronny Deila insisted on Wednesday night that Celtic are preparing to reject anticipated bids of £8 million for star man Virgil van Dijk.

Arsenal, Southampton and Sunderland have been heavily linked with the Dutch international defender.

However, Deila is convinced Van Dijk can earn more cash for the newly-crowned Scottish champions by helping them to the Champions League group stages and is intent on keeping a player he regards as the best young defender he’s ever worked with.

Asked how the Parkhead club would respond if a bid of £7 million or £8 million comes in this summer, Deila replied: “We would say no. Because we would get that at Christmas also, maybe more.

“This is the problem. There is much more money in the Champions League – and we would be losing one of our best players. So this is an easy thing to talk about.” (Daily Mail)

Kenny Black warns Rangers must deal with pressure of play-offs

Kenny Black has told his Rangers players that they must deal with the pressure of the play-offs and end their disastrous Dumfries record this season.

The Light Blues have lost twice to Queen of the South at Palmerston Park, conceding five goals and failing to score in their two visits, ahead of their return on Saturday.

Rangers number two Black has warned they must put that right in the first leg of their play off as they look to get a positive result to bring back to Ibrox.

And the 51-year-old - who started his own playing career with the club - said: “Hopefully this pressurised situation will bring out the best in us.

“We have a lot of experienced players and staff and it is up to us to go and retaliate first. Queen of the South have a terrific home record, they’ve had 13 home victories in the league this season so we have to make sure we combat that.

“With a two-legged affair then hopefully we can come back with an advantage or at the very minimum still be on level terms with the 90 minutes to come at Ibrox.” (Daily Record)

Celtic hand trial to Northern Ireland starlet

Celtic have offered a trial to Northern Ireland’s newly-crowned young player of the year Gavin Whyte.

However, the Hoops face stiff competition from the English Premier League to sign the Crusaders winger.

The 19-year-old, who helped Crusaders lift this season’s title, won the football writers’ vote at a ceremony on Sunday.

Celtic’s head of under-21 recruitment, Willie McStay, has been a regular in Belfast this year to watch £200,000-rated teenager Whyte in action.

And Celtic have invited Whyte to train at Lennoxtown this month. (Express)

News in brief:

• Lionel Messi put in a performance of a lifetime to put Bayern to the sword in last night’s Champions League semi. Barca ended up winning 3-0 with a brace for the Argentinian.

• Charlie Mulgrew has been singled out as a possible target for newly promoted Bournemouth. (Evening Times)

• Partick Thistle midfielder Steven Lawless is to face a Scottish FA charge on breaching betting regulations. (Sun)

• Hibernian winger Martin Boyle will miss the play-offs because of medial ligament damage, while defender Jordon Forster and striker Farid El Alagui are also injury concerns. (Edinburgh Evening News)