Rumour Mill: Rodgers targets Chelsea starlet | Birmingham eye Stokes | Robertson laughs off claims Rangers caused Rodgers appointment

Brendan Rodgers is already looking to strengthen his squad. Picture: PA

Brendan Rogers targets Chelsea Starlet Fankaty Dabo

According to The Sun, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has opened talks with former club Chelsea about signing full back Fankaty Dabo this summer.

Dabo, 20, who plays at right back, has been a regular for Chelsea in their youth and reserve teams - but has yet to make his first-team debut. Chelsea are said to be looking to loan the highly-rated youngster out and it is thought Rodgers is looking to make him his first signing. (Sun)

Brendan Rogers says Scott Brown will be Celtic’s ‘Steven Gerrard’

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Scott Brown will remain as club captain next season.

Rodgers described the tenacious midfielder as a “real warrior” and said that this season he could be as inspirational as Steven Gerrard was for Liverpool.

“Scott is a real warrior and he will stay captain here, 150 per cent,” he said via The Record. “Last season, towards the end, he was maybe hit a little by injury.”

“He’s only 30 and still has his best years ahead. I went into Liverpool as manager, Steven was 32. There was a lot of talk that maybe his best days were gone,” he added.

“But Steven went on for the next two years and was brilliant for me at Anfield. He was a great leader and he nearly went on to lift the Premier League title.” (Various)

Birmingham eye move for Anthony Stokes

Birmingham City are set to launch a bid for Scottish Cup final match winner Anthony Stokes in a move that provides Brendan Rodgers with his first major personnel decision as Celtic manager.

The Republic of Ireland forward is wanted by Birmingham manager Gary Rowett as he prioritises a striker to spearhead the club’s challenge to return to the Premier League five years after they dropped out of it. (Scotsman)

Brendan Rodgers plans to ginger up Celtic's ambitions

Stewart Robertson laughs off claims Rangers celebrations caused Brendan Rodgers appointment

A report by the Scotsman’s Andrew Smith said that the antics of the Rangers directors as they celebrated the penalty shoot-out win over Celtic had a profound effect on Desmond, eventually leading to his appointment of Brendan Rogers.

However Stewart Robertson has defended the reaction of his fellow directors and denied the claim, he said: “I did see those reports. The Rangers directors were ecstatic at winning.

“However, you have to remember it was a release of four or five years of hard graft trying to get the club out of the hands of the guys who had it.

“We jumped up and cheered to celebrate a goal, we jumped up and cheered when the shoot-out was finished. I defy anybody, in any directors’ box in the world, not to get out of their seats in that situation.

“It was definitely not grand-standing. Yes, we celebrated, absolutely, we’re only human. It was exuberant celebration, to use the word of the day.” (Daily Record)

Rangers target could opt to remain in the US

New York Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese has told Empire of Soccer that the club remain in talks with Niko Kranjcar about extending his spell in the USA despite suggestions that the Croatian midfielder could be set for a move to Rangers, Savarese said: “We’re still talking to him about the possibility of keeping him for the future. He is a valuable player for us and more than a valuable player, a great person; the kind of person we want to keep with the club. So we are definitely interested in him staying with us.” (HITC)

Joey Barton reacts to Hull win on Twitter

New Rangers signing Joey Barton has taken to social networking site Twitter to give his reaction to Hull City’s win against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday evening.

He Tweeted: “Gutted for Sheff Wed but Hull deserved that. They were better of both teams that played us last year at Burnley.” (Various)

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