Rumour Mill: Barcelona move for Celtic wonderkid | Bayern and Barca eye Rangers starlet | Greg Stewart to return?

Barcelona backed out of a move to try and sign Karamoko Dembele before the 13-year-old became an internet sensation, the Catalan giants and Bayern Munich are watching Rangers' youngster Billy Gilmour, and Dundee have made an approach to Birmingham City about bringing Greg Stewart back to Scotland.

Barcelona considered a move for Karamoko Dembele before the 13-year-old became a sensation. Picture: SNS

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Barcelona move for Celtic wonderkid

Barcelona considered making a move for Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele but backed away because they didn’t want to be landed in any more hot water with Fifa.

The Catalan club were previously handed a transfer ban by football’s governing body and this was said to have dissuaded them from trying to prize Dembele from Celtic.

Newspaper Sport insist Barcelona’s interest preceded Dembele’s debut for the Celtic under-20s as a 13-year-old. (Sport)

Bayern and Barca eye Rangers slarlet

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have joined the race to sign Rangers starlet Billy Gilmour.

It emerged earlier this week that the highly-touted 15-year-old is being monitored by four of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League.

Rangers could lose their prospect for as little as £100,000 if he decides to sign elsewhere after his 16th birthday next year. Although, it has been reported he’d prefer to remain at Ibrox. (Daily Record)

Dundee make Stewart bid

Dundee have approached Birmingham City about loaning back former star Greg Stewart in the January transfer window.

Stewart moved to the Midlands club earlier this summer in a £500,000 deal but has struggled for playing time since his departure.

Despite this, it is understood Birmingham have turned down the request as they remain committed to slowly introducing Stewart into English football. (Dundee Telegraph)

Nicholson close to Hearts deal

Sam Nicholson is close to agreeing a new contract with Hearts after talks with Tynecastle officials.

The 21-year-old will not play until January following knee surgery, by which time his long-term future could be finalised.

Nicholson’s current contract expires at the end of the season but discussions between Hearts, the player and his representatives have been positive. Head coach Robbie Neilson believes an agreement could happen in the near future. (Evening News)

Rodgers convinced Izaguirre to stay

Emilio Izaguirre has revealed he was about to leave Celtic Park this past summer - until Brendan Rodgers convinced him to stay.

Izaguirre gave an emotional farewell to fans at the end of last season as it looked certain the Honduran, who’d lost his starting left-back role to Kieran Tierney, was going to exit the club.

However, he remained past the summer transfer window and admits now that Rodgers convinced him to stay and back up Tierney in case the young player got injured, which occurred last month as the 19-year-old picked up an ankle injury. (Scottish Sun)

McGinn may need surgery

Hibs boss Neil Lennon has revealed midfielder John McGinn may require an operation on the ankle injury which has been hindering him for much of the season.

The 21-year-old has been troubled by a piece of calcified bone at the top of his ankle, a problem which is being monitored by the Easter Road outfit’s medical staff.

It is a condition which is likely to get worse rather than improve although it’s manageable at the moment. (Evening News)

Rodgers to spend in January

Brendan Rodgers is set to spend some of Celtic’s £30m Champions League bonanza this January, but insists the money must be spent wisely.

Rodgers added five players in the summer and he’s looking to recruit further in order to get the pieces in place early to have a run at the Champions League again next year.

The Celtic boss admits the additional funds from this year’s competition gives them greater leeway when it comes to transfer targets, but stressed the players have to be the right fit for the club. (Evening Times)

Neilson: England move beckons for Wright

Robbie Neilson believes it’s only a matter of time before an English club makes a move for St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright.

The Saints boss is routinely praised for the job he’s doing at McDiarmid Park, but to this point no club from down south has made a firm offer.

Hearts take on St Johnstone at Tynecastle this weekend. (Daily Record)

Wilson: Criticism of Rangers defence ‘harsh’

Danny Wilson feels the criticism of the Rangers defence has been overly “harsh” ever since he returned to the club in 2015.

The Ibrox side are often lambasted for their lack of defensive solidity even though, with 12 conceded through 11 games, they have one of the better records in the league and have leaked on four more than Celtic.

Wilson insists it was exactly the same last season when Rangers coasted to the Ladbrokes Championship title. (Evening Times)

Ferguson brands England ‘arrogant’

Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson believes England’s players won’t have even noticed Scott Brown retired from international football - because they are too “arrogant”.

Writing in his column in the Daily Record, Ferguson said he loved nothing more than helping Scotland defeat England at Wembley, and hopes Scott Brown gets to taste similar glory next weekend. (Daily Record)

John Brown: Rangers can be best of the rest

Ibrox great John Brown is backing Mark Warburton to deliver second place for Rangers this season and insists that it will constitute a major success.

Brown accepts that Celtic are over the horizon but believes Rangers are more than a match for Aberdeen and Hearts because they have more firepower.

And having been a key figure in the Rangers squad that won nine successive titles, he says he does not fear Celtic reaching ten because so much can change in the next few seasons.(The Scotsman)

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