Rumour Mill: Mitchell Dijks | Rangers | Hibs

Celtic target Mitchell Dijks wants more time to consider his future before making a decision as Bitton pledges future to club; Dave King claims he was deceived by ex-Rangers owner David Murray and Scott Allan vows to stay and lead Hibs back to Premiership

Mitchell Dijks wants more time to consider his future. Picture: Getty

Dijks wants time to consider future

CELTIC target Mitchell Dijks wants more time to decide his future, as Ajax and Celtic hover in the wings.

The defender has held talks with both Ajax and Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord, while the Hoops, Hertha Berlin and AZ Alkmaar are also monitoring the situation.

A product of the Ajax youth academy, it is thought that Dijks still harbours affection for the Amsterdam giants, but the left back - who can also operate at centre half - is yet to make a decision.

Dijks has been priced at just over £920,000, but could move to Ajax for half that due to a sell-on clause in his contract. (Inside Futbol)

Hoops empty Boerrigter

FORGOTTEN Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter will be allowed to leave, the club has confirmed.

The Dutch winger has made just three appearances under Ronny Deila and has been plagued by injuries during his time in Glasgow.

And now Celtic are set to cancel the remainder of the Dutchman’s contract, which runs until 2017. (Sunday Mail)

Bitton pledges future

NIR Bitton has vowed to stay at Celtic despite reported interest from Sunderland.

The Premier League outfit were linked with a £5 million summer swoop for the Israeli midfielder but Bitton has pledged his future to the Parkhead side. (The Sun)

County target permanent Irvine move

ROSS County are keen on bringing on-loan Celtic star Jackson Irvine to Dingwall permanently.

The defensive midfielder has impressed during the past season, and manager Jim McIntyre is keen to hold onto the Australian international permanently.

But, as he told BBC Scotland, the ball is ‘firmly in Celtic’s court’. (BBC)

‘No Celtic offer for Ciftci’, says agent

NADIR Ciftci’s agent Pierre van Hooijdonk says there has been no offer for the Dundee United ace from Celtic.

Van Hooijdonk, who enjoyed a spell at Celtic during his playing career, said: “There has been some speculation but that is all. There is nothing to report on that front.

“I have not had a conversation with Peter Lawwell or anyone else at Celtic about Nadir. He is a very good player so there is always going to be interest in him but we will see what happens.” (Various)

King blasts Murray over ‘deception’

DAVE King has launched an astonishing attack on former Rangers owner Sir David Murray, claiming he deceived him over a £20 million investment in 2000.

King piped in £20m of his own money but says Sir David didn’t take the same risk with his own money.

The Rangers chief accepts he took a risk, but added: “I was sore because David Murray never ever let me know that the money we were putting in was my money, and it was not his money. My view is that he should have let me know that.

“I never knew at any stage that if something happened to the Murray Group it could come back to Rangers.

“I was David’s senior partner in the funding. He owed me the obligation to say ‘By the way Dave, I’m asking you to put your money in, but this isn’t really my money.” (The Sun)

Scott Allan vows to lead Hibs back to Premiership

SCOTT Allan has vowed to take Hibs back to Scottish football’s top flight, as the Easter Road side face another season in the Championship.

Allan - the PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year - has pulled the strings for Hibs in midfield this season, and said after yesterday’s match: “As I said when I came here, I want to get this club back up. The fans are back with us after a hard year last year and we have a good management team.

“We just need to start again for next season and hope we do what Hearts did - win the league comfortably.” (Sunday Mail)

Stubbs blasts ref over Rangers time-wasting

ALAN Stubbs has hit out at referee John Beaton for not clamping down on Rangers’ time-wasting tactics.

The Ibrox side, enjoying a two-goal aggregate lead, were in no hurry throughout the match, and Stubbs felt that Beaton gave them ‘all the time in the world’.

He added: “It took 75 minutes before he cautioned a player for wasting time.

“If the shoe was on the other foot, I’d be taking my time. But the referee could’ve done something about that a lot earlier and put a stop to it.” (Sunday Mail)

Killie release eight

KILMARNOCK have released eight players, and face a sweat over two more.

The Rugby Park side have parted company with Paul Cairney, Lee Miller, Sammy Clingan, Dylan Pooler, Nathan Eccleston, Euan Smith, Mark Thomson and Chris Chantler, while Manuel Pascali and Alexei Eremenko are still to decide their futures, with reported offers from abroad. (Kilmarnock FC)