Rumour Mill: Celtic linked with Pope | Aberdeen snap up Storey

Nick Pope of Charlton, who has been linked with Celtic. Picture: Getty Images

Celtic after Pope - reports

CELTIC have been linked with a move for Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope - but the Hoops could face competition from Leeds, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Hull and Burnley.

The 24-year-old - who started his career with Ipswich and has had spells at Bury, Harrow, Cambridge and York City -

The Addicks suffered relegation from the Championship but Pope’s performances caught the eye regardless. (TeamTalk)

Dons agree Storey deal

ABERDEEN have agreed a pre-contract deal with Miles Storey, after the Swindon striker’s successful loan spell at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Dons confirmed the deal barely 24 hours after allowing ten to leave Pittodrie, with loanee Simon Church returning to parent club MK Dons and David Goodwillie being allowed to leave. (Various)

Rodgers in pole position for Celtic job

BRENDAN Rodgers has held further talks with Celtic amid reports he is in pole position to succeed Ronny Deila at Parkhead.

The former Swansea and Liverpool boss was sacked by Liverpool in October last year but dropped hints that he would be interested in the Celtic job. (Sky Sports)

Hoops linked with Fulham star

CELTIC are looking to sign highly rated Fulham midfielder Emerson Hyndman.

The 20-year-old American has drawn the attention of a number of top European clubs, with the Parkhead side now battling European giants AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund for his signature. (Press & Journal)

Joey Barton to decide on Rangers future

JOEY Barton will spend the next three days abroad as he ponders his future, with Rangers circling.

The 33-year-old will discuss things with his partner and will decide on whether to join the Ibrox club or stay on at Turf Moor.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is keen on holding onto Barton despite interest from the Gers. (Daily Record)

Arsenal to launch £10m bid for Kieran Tierney

ARSENAL are set to bid £10m for Celtic’s Kieran Tierney after having the player watched by club scouts.

The 18-year-old is also attracting the attention of Liverpool and Manchester City, but has previously said he wants to stay at Celtic for the time being.(Various)

Gordon backs Keane for Celtic

CELTIC goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes that the club would be landing a massively undervalued manager were they to appoint Roy Keane.

The Irishman remains among the favourites to replace Ronny Deila, along with David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers, and Gordon has given a ringing endorsement of Keane’s capabilities. (The Scotsman)

Izaguirre to join MLS side

CELTIC defender Emilio Izaguirre is expected to join MLS outfit Toronto this week after saying farewell to fans following the Parkhead side’s 7-0 thrashing of Motherwell.

After six eventful and emotional seasons with Celtic Emilio Izaguirre is expected to complete a move to MLS outfit Toronto later this week.

The popular full-back led Celtic onto the park to collect the SPFL trophy on Sunday before bidding a tearful farewell with a special salute to the Green Brigade who had produced a banner in his honour. (Various)

‘Right’ for Rangers to have been punished - De Boer

RONALD De Boer last night insisted it was ‘fair’ his old club were punished four years ago for the financial mismanagement which led them into liquidation.

But the Dutchman, who spent four years at Ibrox, believes Rangers have emerged from that wreckage in better shape and with many harsh lessons lesson having been learned. (The Herald)

Paterson content to lose summer holidays

HEARTS defender Callum Paterson will receive only nine days off this coming summer - and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The young right back was recently called into Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad for the friendly double-header against France and Italy. With the first match taking place at the end of this month, and Paterson’s season with Hearts just finishing on Sunday after the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone, it means he’ll get only four days off before the Scotland get together. (The Scotsman)

Deila not keen on Norway return

DEPARTING Celtic manager Ronny Deila says he will wait for the right job to come along before getting back into management.

He told Celtic TV: “I’ve learned so much and this has really given me motivation to go on and be a manager for many years more. I’m only 40 years old, so I’ve got a long future ahead of me in coaching if I want to.

“If the right thing comes up then I want to start working again. If not then I will enjoy my family and hopefully some more sun that I’ve had here,” Deila explained.

“But I want to stay abroad. I’m not thinking about going back to Norway. Maybe I will have to in the end, but I will try to stay abroad.” (Various)

Duffy set for loan deal

MOTHERWELL and Ross County are interested in signing Michael Duffy on loan from Celtic in the summer transfer window.

Six clubs in the Scottish Premiership are reported to be after the 21-year-old on a loan deal for the 2016-17 campaign.

The youngster joined Scottish Premiership champions Celtic from Derry City last year, but he has yet to make a breakthrough into the first team. (Sun)

Kilmarnock legend issues play-off rallying call

EX-Kilmarnock player Ray Montgomerie says the upcoming play-off against Falkirk will be the biggest game that players currently at the Rugby Park club will be involved in.

He said: “You hear people saying this is the biggest game, or that’s the biggest game. But the people involved this week have to realise it’ll be the biggest game they’ll be involved in.

“It is imperative we stay in the top division, there is no doubt. You look at the teams who have gone down and have found it hard to come back up, some of them with more resources than us.” (The Scotsman)

Aberdeen part company with 10 players

ABERDEEN have announced that goalkeeper Scott Brown, defender Michael Rose and striker David Goodwillie are among several players who have left the club.

Wales striker Simon Church and goalkeeper Adam Collin will return to their parent clubs MK Dons and Rotherham respectively following their loan spells while midfielder Barry Robson has retired.

Dons’ under-20s players Kalvin Orsi, Lukas Culjak, Sam Robertson and Liam Lambert have also left the club. Meanwhile Australian goalkeeper Aaron Lennox has signed a new one-year contract.

Motherwell offer new deals to 14 players

The Lanarkshire club have offered 14 players new contracts including James McFadden.

Six players however are also departing the club including strikers David Clarkson and Wes Fletcher. The club have made contract offers to Scott McDonald, Steven Hammell, Keith Lasley, Stephen McManus, McFadden and Craig Samson while 21-year-old forward Craig Moore has been offered a deal with on loan with Ayr, and first-team defender Ben Hall is still considering a contract proposal. (Various)

Celtic begin work on safe standing area

CELTIC have began work installing the new safe-standing area at Parkhead that will be available to supporters from the start of next season.

The modified area will sit where the North Stand meets the Lisbon Lions Stand. This is around the area where the Green Brigade fans’ group are located. The initial plans will look to accommodate up to 2,600 supporters. (Scotsman)

Findlay buys Cowdenbeath

COWDENBEATH have announced that chairman Donald Findlay QC has bought the majority shareholding in the club from Innovate (Cowdenbeath) Ltd.

The Blue Brazil suffered their second relegation in a row this season and will be playing their football in League Two next term.

Findlay will hold the shares in trust before a new community-based fundraising campaign is launched but the chairman has already issued a rallying cry urging everyone to band together to get the club back as quickly as possible into the Championship. (Various)

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Ross County have parted company with Italian midfielder Rafa De Vita

• Former Ross County manager Derek Adams is on the verge of gaining promotion for Plymouth as he takes his side to Wembley for the League Two play-off final

• Dunfermline have agreed a pre-contract deal with Inverness Caledonian midfielder Nat Wedderburn

• St Johnstone have released Simon Lappin and told John Sutton he is free to find a new club as Tommy Wright begins to reshape his squad for next season

Rumour Mill: Celtic linked with Pope | Aberdeen snap up Storey | Rodgers holds Parkhead talks