Rumour Mill: Celtic | Guidetti | Vuckic | Hibs
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Ronny Deila to trim six players from Celtic squad
Ronny Deila plans to cut six players from his Celtic first team squad this summer. The Hoops boss has continually stated his desire to keep influential players such as Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Johansen, though fringe members such as Derk Boerrigter, Stefan Scepovic, Mubarak Wakaso, Aleksander Tonev and Lukasz Zaluska could be on there way out, as well as current Celts out on loan, Amido Balde and Teemu Pukki. (Evening Times)
• Deila has admitted he would rather tie Stefan Johansen up on a longer-term contract rather than risk losing the influential midfielder. The Norwegian has been one of the club’s top performers this season and those displays have attracted interest from Bundesliga sides but with two years left on his contract his countryman doesn’t want to see the 24-year-old going anywhere. (The Scotsman)
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Hide Ad• Jason Denayer says he would like to help Celtic reach the Champions League next season, though is unsure of his future with only one year remaining on his deal at Manchester City. Denayer stated that while he wants to play for a “big club”, for the meantime he is focused on Celtic. (The Scotsman)
Celtic ‘target’ Anya wants to play in EPL
Rumoured Celtic target Ikechi Anya is looking to remain with promotion chasing Watford in the hope of earning himself a regular starting role in a English Premier League side next season. The flying winger has never played at the level before and is contracted at Vicarage Road through until the end of next season. (Daily Express)
John Guidetti could have blown Feyenoord return
John Guidetti looks to have scuppered his own chances of a return to Feyenoord by making excessive demands. The Daily Record are reporting that the Dutch club offered the striker £15,000 a week on a pre-contract agreement, but Guidetti wants a signing-on fee so high it has been branded “outrageous” by his former team. (Daily Record)
Newcastle ‘are paying 80% of Haris Vuckic wage’
Despite the deal which will see Rangers pay Newcastle United £500,000 should they earn promotion back to the top flight, the Ibrox club may yet get value for money out of playmaker Haris Vuckic after it emerged Newcastle are paying 80 per cent of his £10,000-a-week contract. Vuckic has scored seven goals in 12 games since arriving at the end of the January transfer window, and he could have a big part to play in Rangers’ promotion push. (The Scottish Sun)
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Hide Ad• Shane Ferguson has assured Stuart McCall he is determined to make a contribution to Rangers’ promotion bid after impressing the Ibrox manager since his belated arrival from Newcastle United. (The Scotsman)
Rangers fans to join Newcastle in Ashley Out movement
Rangers fans are set to join Newcastle United supporters in an attempt to remove the businessman from a position of power at St James’ Park. Gers fans group Sons of Struth have apparently been in contact with their Geordie counterparts regarding how they can help with the ‘Ashley Out’ movement. (Evening Times)
SPFL post-split fixture chaos
There was frustration across the SPFL Premiership last night after SPFL bosses failed to come to an agreement with police and TV companies over the post-split fixture dates. It was previously expected that SPFL chief Neil Doncaster would announce the fixtures on Tuesday evening, but even after two days of negotiations there is no agreement in sight. (Daily Record)
Hibs make move for greater play-off pot
The Hibernian board have made a move to slash the revenue sharing pot from the Premiership play-offs by half as they look to cash-in on the end of this season. If the Edinburgh club make it to the play-off final, having likely played Rangers on the way, they will earn around £1 million. However, under SPFL rules, 50 per cent of that amount is to be shared around the rest of the SPFL. Hibs want that cut to 25 per cent and the motion will go to a vote next week. (Daily Mail)
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Hide Ad• Alan Stubbs hopes to end two unwanted 2014/15 season records in the space of six days as he bids to steer Hibernian to the Scottish Cup final this weekend. Stubbs’s side have not defeated opponents Falkirk yet this campaign, a similar record to the one they had against rivals Hearts before Sunday’s Edinburgh derby. (The Scotsman)
Gary Caldwell wants to bring Ian Black to Wigan
Former Celtic midfielder Gary Caldwell could be set to make Rangers midfielder Ian Black one of his first signings as manager of Wigan. Black, who has been out of the Rangers starting XI in recent weeks, is out of contract in the summer and could move on a free. (Daily Mail)
Yogi Hughes fancies ICT advantage in semi-final
Inverness CT boss John Hughes reckons Celtic’s midweek Scottish Premiership match with Kilmarnock will give his side an advantage in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. The two sides will be meeting for the second week in succession after a 1-1 draw in Inverness last Saturday. (Press and Journal)
News in brief
• Stuart McCall is delighted Rangers have now secured their involvement in the Scottish Premiership play-offs, a format he believes has been a huge positive for Scottish football. (The Scotsman)
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Hide Ad• Hearts are set to contest a two-game ban handed to Adam Eckersley after the left back was charged with head-butting Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan. (The Scotsman)
• Falkirk playmaker Craig Sibbald has spoken of his desire to obtain redemption against Hibernian at Hampden after the Bairns’ collapse in the same fixture two years ago. (The Scotsman)
• The St Mirren board have fired back at sections of the Paisley club’s support for what they called ‘horrific’ abuse. (The Herald)
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