The Rumour Mill: Thursday’s football news and gossip

Turkish interest in Edu

Turkish club Trabzonspor are reportedly preparing a bid for Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu. The Turks hope the attraction of playing Europa League football - and a pay rise - will be enough to lure the USA international away from Ibrox. (Express)

• Former Hearts midfielder Ian Black admits he would love to speak to Rangers if the club’s transfer embargo is lifted. (Sun)

• Rangers striker David Healy is attracting interest from Fleetwood Town. (Sun)

Rangers takeover

• Prospective Rangers owner Charles Green wants to hold talks with Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan to prevent the dispute between the club and the ruling body spiralling out of control. “There is a balancing act here,” he said. “We accept Rangers should be punished for the sins of the past. I am not disputing that, the SFA have an obligation to do that. But I have to stress that the fans of Rangers, administrators and myself feel the initial penalty given to the club was too harsh.” (Sun)

• St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour has hit out at Rangers for taking their fight against a transfer ban to court. “The law is an ass,” he said. “I think that sums it up. What’s a court getting involved in football for?” (Scotsman)

• FIFA wants the SFA to take “direct action” against Rangers for taking the matter to the courts. (Various)

• Jim Boyce, vice-president of FIFA, said: “Neither FIFA nor UEFA like any clubs of their member associations becoming involved in legal action ... This matter has to be resolved. It cannot go on.” (Record)

• English league bosses have warned they will not be treated like an asylum if the SFA decide to terminate Rangers’ membership. (Record)

• SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster argues that the 12 member clubs did not shirk their responsibilities by failing to decide on a fixed punishment for clubs reforming as so-called “newcos”. (Various)

• PFA Scotland chief Fraser Wishart is happy that clubs will now be punished for paying players late. (Record)

Exit route for Juarez

Mexican side Club America are reportedly poised to bring Celtic misfit Efrain Juarez back to his homeland. The utility player was signed for £2.5m in 2010 on a four-year deal and the Parkhead club are desperate to get him off their wage bill. (Record)

• The friendly between Celtic and Real Madrid in the USA on 11 August has been thrown into doubt after it emerged the Scottish champions have yet to apply for an exemption from SPL duty that weekend. (Scotsman)

Confusion over Aberdeen’s Hayes ‘signing’

While Aberdeen were annoucning his imminent arrival, Inverness winger Jonny Hayes was lying on a beach in Thailand telling all and sundry, via his Twitter account, that he hadn’t yet decided where he would play his football next season. The 24 year-old first expressed surprise with a tweet yesterday morning, which saw him muse: “I must have a doppelganger because I’ve managed to sign for teams even tho I’m halfway across the world!.... Leave it out.” (Scotsman)

Griffiths set to stay at Wolves

Striker Leigh Griffiths is unlikely to return to Hibernian next season after deciding to focus on forcing his way into the Wolverhampton Wanderers team in the final year of his contract at Molineux. The 21-year-old will begin pre-season training at Wolves under the watchful eye of new manager Stale Solbakken. (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Aston Villa are reported to be meeting Norwich boss Paul Lambert’s representatives today over their vacancy. (Various)

• Dundee United have signed Falkirk midfielder Mark Millar on a three-year contract. (Sun)

• Motherwell goalkeeper Lee Hollis has signed a two-year deal. (Various)

• St Johnstone have signed freed Inverness goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey on a one-year deal. (Express)

• Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies has signed former Hearts midfielder Chris Kane on a two-year contract. (Scotsman)

• Iain Vigurs has agreed a new deal with newly-promoted Ross County ahead of their first season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. (Various)

• Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2015. (Various)