The Rumour Mill - Thursday’s football news and gossip

RANGERS are at the mercy of the Gabon FA as the Ibrox side await confirmation of Daniel Cousin’s return to Ibrox, reports today’s Daily Record. Cousin’s contract with Gabon outfit FC Sapins has now expired, but the SFA, on Rangers’ behalf, are awaiting paperwork verifying that Cousin’s contract ran its course before the end of the January transfer window. The Sun, running the same story, quote Cousin as saying: “I’m excited about the possibility of returning to Rangers. It’s a special club for me and I hope we can reach an agreement in the next few days.”

While Rangers tie up a deal for Cousin, the Ibrox side have been foiled in their attempts to boost their numbers elsewhere. The Record and The Sun report that Namibian full-back Miguel Hamutenya was unable to obtain a work visa in time after impressing Rangers manager Ally McCoist during a recent trial, and has now signed to Maltese club Luxol St Andrews until the end of the season. The Sun goes on to say that Rangers will likely return to the negotiating table for the player in the summer.

DUNDEE UNITED have tied Polish goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak to a pre-contract agreement, say the Daily Express and the Daily Mail. Cierzniak had been available under freedom of contract after leaving Cypriot side Alki Larnaca two weeks ago. The 28-year-old Pole convinced Peter Houston to make a move after the stopper saved a penalty in a trial match. Shamrock Rovers has been suggested as a potential destination for the goalkeeper until he joins the Tannadice side in the summer.

The Record and the Sun report on a wrangle between Rangers and Swedish side GAIS over a dispute that may be escalated to FIFA if unresolved. Marvin Celik, who Rangers recruited from GAIS in January, is the subject of the disagreement between the two clubs. GAIS allege that Rangers owe them a transfer free of £240,000, a claim that Rangers deny. The Swedes have accused Rangers of trying to wriggle out of paying. The Gothenburg club have been asked by Rangers to send written proof that they had offered Celik a contract in the required timescale after the expiry of his contract.

Finally, the Express report that former Aberdeen, Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Stuart Duff has made a move to Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty from Maltese club Qormi. The Express also say that St Mirren have invited free agent Steven Kinniburgh for a trial after the 22-year-old was released by Oxford United.