The Rumour Mill: Thursday’s football news and gossip

Bocanegra could be set for shock Rangers return

Carlos Bocanegra could be back at Rangers next week after it emerged that his season-long loan move to Racing Santander could collapse due to an administrative error. There was a delay in submitting paperwork before the transfer deadline and the Spanish FA are now seeking permission from FIFA for the deal to go ahead. (Record)

Lassad rejects Levante claims

New Celtic signing Lassad Nouioui has hit back at Levante after the Spanish club produced a document they claim proves he had agreed to join them. The Tunisian striker said: “I was never interested in playing for Levante. My former agent, (Karim) Akill, is culpable here. I worked with him for seven years but in this case a move to Levante wasn’t authorised. I’d no hesitation, I wanted to sign for Celtic.” (Record)

• New Celtic striker Miku Fedor was caught up in an international incident after the Venezuelan football president claimed the national side were treated like “drug dealers” en route to Peru for a World Cup qualifier. Their plane was refused persmission to land and they were kept back for hours by customs and police. (Express)

• Celtic target Alessandro del Piero has moved to Sydney on a £50,000-a-week deal. (Various)

Fenlon looking for defensive cover

Hibs boss Pat Fenlon is still looking to sign another defender after letting Sean O’Hanlon and David Stephen leave the club last month. The Easter Road boss said: “There are a lot of players who are still available. Players get put to us on a regular basis. We are always trying to improve the squad whether the window is open or closed.” (Express)

Scotland v Serbia

• Craig Levein has explained that he has maintained his stance on Steven Fletcher for the benefit of those players who have continued to show commitment to Scotland. The Scotland boss said: “I’ve left the door open for a year – he made no attempt to get back into the squad. So I thought, for the sake of the players, that there was no point in me, every time we have a press conference, going over and over the same thing.” (Scotsman)

• Neil Lennon is hopeful that Scott Brown will soon be able to return to international duty but has warned that the midfielder would find it difficult to play in both halves of Scotland’s next World Cup double-header with his hip condition. The Celtic manager said: “This isn’t a club versus country thing. He wants to play for Scotland. He’s disappointed to miss out on these games but, for me, if he could have played the Serbia game, there’s no way he could have got through the  Macedonia game. Hopefully, he’ll be able to manage it better come the next qualifiers. Two games a week would be a problem. We’ll have to sit down and talk about it.” (Scotsman)

• Wolves defender Christophe Berra will join up with the Scotland squad today after his partner gave birth to a baby girl. (Various)

• However, Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has pulled out of the Scotland squad through injury, with Bristol City’s Ricky Foster his replacement. (Various)

• Serbia midfielder Milos Ninkovic believes his team will beat Scotland on Saturday because they have experience of playing against Northern Ireland, a side he claims are on a par with the Scots. (Various)

Broadfoot signs for Blackpool

Kirk Broadfoot believes leaving Rangers for Blackpool could boost his bid to get back into the Scotland squad. The 28-year-old right-back, who spent five years at Ibrox, agreed to terminate his Rangers contract this week and subsequently agreed a one-year deal at Bloomfield Road. (Various)

Stevenson calls for Hearts fans’ backing

Ryan Stevenson has revealed he never expected a second chance at Hearts after walking out on the club.  However, having returned to Tynecastle on a three-year contract, he is eager for supporters to keep faith in him. He said: “I just hope the fans stick with me. I’ve signed a long-term deal and I think they know I’ll give everything for the jersey.” (Evening News)

IN BRIEF

• Blackpool are aiming to sign Danny Wilson on loan from Liverpool, where the Scotland defender has been unable to become a first-team regular following his move from Rangers. (Mirror)

• Dundee United are ready to sign former Rangers full-back Gregory Vignal after the 31-year-old impressed in training. (Record)

• Former Celtic players Mark Fotheringham and Derek Riordan are looking to win deals with Ross County. (Record)

• Mark Reynolds is hoping his loan move to Aberdeen from Sheffield Wednesday can be made permanent. (Express)

• Dundee are trying to sign Queen’s Park teenager Gary Duggan, who has attracted interest from Celtic, Dundee United, Hearts and St Mirren. (Sun)

• St Mirren boss Danny Lennon is giving Argentine full-back Franco Miranda another seven days to win a contract. (Record)

• Partick Thistle have signed former Motherwell midfielder Ross Forbes until January. (Record)

• Ayr United have signed striker Darian MacKinnon from Hamilton on an emergency three-month loan. (Record)