The Rumour Mill: Thursday’s football news and gossip

The fallout from Nikica Jelavic’s deadline-day transfer to Everton forms much of today’s back page fodder. Beleaguered RANGERS chairman Craig Whyte defends the transfer in today’s Sun, saying that “it was the right decision for Rangers”. Whyte adds that no players of Jelavic’s calibre were available. One player who may dispute that, St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza, maintains that Rangers had signalled their intentions to sign him on the last day of the transfer window, only to be told that the club had changed its mind an hour before the deadline. Sandaza goes on to say that Rangers’ decision to pull out of a deal will further endanger their title ambitions. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that Sandaza may be on the lookout for a move to Russia or America. Yet further Rangers-related transfer gossip from the Daily Express, who report that Rangers are considering 22-goal FALKIRK striker Farid El Alagui, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

On the other side of town, the Sun reports that CELTIC striker Gary Hooper is attracting interest from Russian clubs Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow, though the report adds that the Parkhead club are unlikely to countenance a deal, even if said clubs offer up to £7 million for the striker, whose impressive 16 goal tally this season has also attracted interest from England. Meanwhile, Efrain Juarez is determined to win back his place at Celtic after a disastrous spell at La Liga club Real Zaragoza; Juarez was named one of the worst La Liga signings of the season.

New ABERDEEN signing Danny Uchechi, a loanee from Nigerian club Dender, reveals that he was once compared to ‘the new Carlos Tevez’ by current Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. The 22-year-old winger had spells at several English clubs, including West Ham, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday, before work permit problems forced a move back to his native Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Record also report that Aberdeen striker Fraser Fyvie could soon be heading the other way. Fyvie has refused to sign a new deal at the club, meaning that Aberdeen face losing him for pittance in December. Accordingly, the Dons have put an asking price of £5 million for Fyvie.

New KILMARNOCK signing Dieter Van Tornhout credits former Celtic striker Mark Burchill with selling him on a move to the SPL. The Belgian striker has signed from Greek side Nea Salamis Famagusta on an 18-month deal.

The Express report that DUNDEE UNITED prospect Johnny Russell will benefit from remaining at the club, according to United manager Peter Houston. Celtic had made two bids for Under-21 Scotland international, who Houston has said can follow the example of David Goodwillie. The Express report elsewhere that Kallum Higginbotham’s move to Huddersfield Town from Falkirk would have happened regardless of any interest from the Old Firm, amid reports that the pair were interested in the winger-striker.

According to the Mail, MOTHERWELL striker Henrik Ojamaa will be approached by Stuart McCall to extend his contract after signing a short-term deal last month. Motherwell hope to agree terms to keep Ojamaa at the club until 2014.

Finally, some further news from Ibrox on the transfer front: according to the Record, Matt McKay was offered to Australian side Brisbane Roar - the club from which Rangers had originally signed him. The Australian club turned the deal down, saying only a free transfer would be of interest. Elsewhere, Kyle Hutton is optimistic that a loan deal that sees him move to DUNFERMLINE until the end of the season will turn him into a Rangers regular next season. HEARTS’ John Sutton, who has been sent on loan to Australian club Central Coast Mariners on a similar deal, tells the Express that he also expects to return to the club next season. Over on Easter Road, new signing Roy O’Donovan says he hopes his second stint in the SPL with HIBERNIAN will be more fruitful than his ill-fated spell with Dundee United. O’Donovan is on loan from Coventry until the end of the season.