Rumour Mill: Van Dijk | Commons | Rangers

Virgil van Dijk and Kris Commons could both leave Celtic Park before the end of the transfer window, Lee McCulloch believes Rangers are in a better place than the last time they faced Inverness CT, and Brian Graham has joined St Johnstone on a season long loan from Dundee United.

Last season's top goalscorer could leave Celtic Park. Picture: Robert Perry

Two stars may leave Celtic following Champions League exit

Celtic could lose centre back Virgil van Dijk before the end of the transfer window after failing to secure a place in the Champions League group stage. The Dutch defender has been linked with moves to Newcastle United and Sevilla in recent weeks and was non-committal on his future, saying “we will have to see what happens”. (The Scotsman)

• The defender could be joined by last season’s Player of the Year Kris Commons in a Celtic Park exodus. The influential attacker is said to be aggrieved at being omitted from the starting XI for the crucial second leg clash. (Daily Mail)

• One player that may be coming into Celtic is striker Stefan Scepovic, though the club face a battle to land the Serbian international after PSV made an improved offer to Sporting Gijon. (Evening Times)

• Hoops’ midfielder Stefan Johansen has insisted that supporters and the media blame the players as opposed to manager Ronny Deila for the defeat to Maribor. He said: “We had a game plan but the players were not able to do it. So that is not the coach’s fault.” (The Scotsman)

• The new manager has also received backing from the club’s board who are determinedly sticking to the long-term project they begun when hiring the Norwegian coach. It is understood that the board will prove Deila with the investment to completely reshape the Celtic squad. (The Herald)

• Despite having helped deny them Champions League football this season, Maribor playmaker Agim Ibraimi has stated that he would still be open to a Celtic Park switch. (The Scotsman)

• Legia Warsaw chairman Dariusz Mioduski believes that “justice was served” by Maribor’s win on Tuesday evening. The Polish boss has also expressed his desire that the two clubs do not meet in the Europa League, citing security fears as the reason. (Daily Record/BBC)

Rangers are in a “better place”

Rangers captain Lee McCulloch believes the Ibrox club are in a much better place than the last time they took on Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the League Cup. The two sides will meet on September 16 for the chance to face Falkirk in the next round, and McCulloch feels Rangers have a greater chance of engineering a positive outcome after losing 3-0 to the Highlanders in the same competition two years ago. (The Herald)

Brian Graham is Stevie May’s replacement

St Johnstone have completed the signing of striker Brian Graham on loan from Dundee United. Saints have been looking for a forward since selling last season’s top goalscorer Stevie May to Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month. Graham moved to Tannadice from Raith Rovers last summer, but after an indifferent first season the signing of Mario Bilate has saw him pushed down the United pecking order. (The Courier)

• Another player possibly leaving United is Gary Mackay-Steven after chairman Stephen Thompson admitted the club are powerless to stop the player fulfilling his desires by returning to England. (Daily Express)

Ross County wait on Celtic safe standing hopes

• Ross County are keen to introduce a safe standing area to their Global Energy Stadium, but chairman Roy McGregor would like to wait and see how the situation develops with Celtic’s plans first, believing that the biggest football ground in the country being granted permission would make it easier for the rest of the clubs to do likewise. (North Star News)

News in brief

• Leeann Dempster has expressed her excitement at meeting the Hibernian supporters in a series of conferences at Easter Road next week. (The Scotsman)

• Falkirk have sold midfielder Conor McGrandles to Norwich City for a club record fee believed to be around £800,000. The young midfielder reunites with former manager Gary Holt who is first team coach at the East Anglia club. (Daily Mail)

• Osman Sow has refused to dwell on his missed opportunities in Hearts’ 2-1 victory over Stenhousemuir on Tuesday evening. The big striker could have netted a hat-trick but insists the team’s progress is the most important thing. (Hearts Official Site)

• Kris Doolan hopes his winner against Morton on Tuesday can help him stake a claim for a regular place in the Partick Thistle starting XI. Last season’s top goalscorer has played second fiddle to new signing Ryan Stevenson thus far in the 2014/15 season. (The Herald)

• The SPFL have compiled a video of the best ice bucket challenges in Scottish football including Neil Doncaster, Scott Brown and Ally McCoist. Watch the video here >>>