The Rumour Mill: Monday's football news and transfer gossip

McCoist renews interest in Goodwillie

Ally McCoist has told Rangers owner Craig Whyte to make David Goodwillie, above, his summer signing priority after failing to identify any realistic targets during his spying trip to Argentina. Instead the Ibrox manager wants Scotland's Young Player of the Year and it is understood that the Dundee United star would jump at the chance of partnering Nikica Jelavic up front for the SPL champions. (The Sun)

• Tomer Hemed is set to sign for Rangers and will avoid the need for a work permit thanks to him recently obtaining a Polish passport. The Israeli striker's mother was born in Poland and that allows him to sign for any other EU-based club. (Daily Express)

• Rangers have been warned by Steven Whittaker's agent that top-flight English clubs could join the race to sign the Scotland defender. (Daily Express)

Newcastle target Scott Brown

Newcastle United are watching Celtic captain Scott Brown as he approaches the final year of his contract at Parkhead. Reports on Tyneside claim first team coach Steve Jones has recommended the Scotland star to manager Alan Pardew. (Daily Mail)

• Celtic are weighing up whether to join rivals Rangers in the race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Neil Danns. McCoist has already identified the free agent as a transfer target, but the 28-year-old is also on the radar of Celtic scouts. (Daily Mail)

• Celtic are considering a move for Maccabi Haifa midfielder Lior Rafaelov, who has voted player of the year as his club won the league title last season. The 25-year-old Israeli internationalist is valued at around 1million. (The Herald)

• Niall McGinn's agent says the Northern Ireland winger could ask to go out on loan in order to boost his chances of becoming a first-team regular at Celtic. (Daily Express)

McLeish tipped for Villa job

Alex McLeish caused a major shock in English football yesterday when he e-mailed Birmingham City to quit as manager and was immediately installed as the 1-5 favourite to take over at arch-rivals Aston Villa. (The Scotsman)

• If McLeish does take over at Aston Villa, he could hold the keys for Carlos Cuellar's mooted move back to Rangers. Ally McCoist revealed last week that he was waiting on the situation at Villa to be resolved before approaching the club over a potential return to the SPL for the Spanish defender. (Daily Record)

Romanov hits back at SFA

Vladimir Romanov has hit back at the Scottish Football Association over the record 100,000 fine imposed on Hearts as punishment for the club's disciplinary record last season. (The Scotsman)

• Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello has emerged as a summer signing target for Aston Villa and Wolves. (The Sun)

Fans' rebellion at Killie

Kilmarnock FC Supporters Association has called for a vote of no confidence in Michael Johnston and said they will not be renewing season tickets, claiming that the chairman is putting the club's existence in danger by alienating fans. (Daily Record)

Petta considers return with Alloa

Bobby Petta, the Dutch winger signed by John Barnes for Celtic and a regular in the team under Martin O'Neill, is contemplating coming out of retirement at the age of 36 and making a return to Scottish football in the Third Division with Alloa Athletic. (The Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Motherwell are leading the race to sign highly-rated ex-Manchester City winger Karl Moore. The 22-year-old returned to his native Ireland last year after failing to feature under Roberto Mancini, and Stuart McCall is now keen to take him on trial. (Daily Record)

• Former Rangers manager Paul Le Guen is to succeed French compatriot Claude LeRoy as the coach of Oman's national team.

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