Rumour Mill: Virgil van Dijk | Wanyama

Virgil van Dijk, reported Celtic target. Picture: Getty

van Dijk deal to be concluded later

Virgil van Dijk is set to complete his move to Celtic today, as the deal for the Groningen centre-half is finalised.

The transfer had threatened to stall over Groningen’s established policy of securing sell-on fees when their young players leave, but it appears that all barriers to the deal have now been removed.

Groningen director of football Hans Nijsland said: “The deal is not yet complete, but we are getting close. I am just waiting for a call from the big boss at Celtic.

“We view (van Dijk) as one of the best defenders in Dutch football and we want to get the best deal for our club.” It is thought the Dutch under-21 cap will cost Celtic £2.5 million.

Hearts latest: ‘Cuts inevitable’ say administrators, while director thanks staff by email

• Hearts’ chief administrator Bryan Jackson believes the club can be saved, but has warned job losses are inevitable.

“Clubs are always saveable. I wouldn’t take it on if it wasn’t saveable,” Jackson said.

“But that doesn’t mean it will be saved. As we’ve seen in the past, various clubs have not been saved [because] they’ve run out of cash, or run out of time or can’t get a CVA.”

• David Weir has backed Gary Locke’s handling of the “extreme situation” at Hearts.

Weir said: “He would rather be concentrating on football but he is going to have to answer questions about a lot of information he doesn’t really know a lot about. It is an extreme situation for Gary.”

• Sergejus Federovas sent an email to Hearts’ players and staff yesterday as the club was placed into administration, in which he claimed that “the club is on the verge of a transformation”.

The Tynecastle director also said that UBIG’s insolvency was “not our expectation”.

• Hearts fans are lucky to have Trevor Birch working on their administration, according to members of the Portsmouth fans’ group which took over the Fratton Park side after their financial troubles.

Portsmouth Supporters Trust member Colin Farmery said: “Hearts fans should be reassured by his appointment as administrator. He has football credentials... and he is a fair-minded man who stood up for (Portsmouth) in an extremely complicated situation.”

Wanyama’s worth £25m, says Tom Boyd

Tom Boyd has backed Neil Lennon’s £25m valuation of Victor Wanyama, as interest in the Kenyan midfielder mounts.

The Hoops legend said that Celtic should hold out for “a lot more” than the reported £10m offered by Southampton earlier this week.

Boyd said: “He and Gary (Hooper) are two I would like to see stay, but Gary’s coming into the last year of his contract and there’s the risk he’ll leave for nothing.

“Wanyama still has a few years left on his contract. Neil Lennon said he wanted £25m and I would go along with that.”

Brittain’s paperwork split between County and Saints

Ross County captain Richard Brittain is registered with the SFA as a Ross County player - but the SPL have Brittain down as a member of the St Johnstone squad.

The 29-year-old signed a pre-contract deal with the Saints, but is now trying to engineer a stay in Dingwall.

Brittain will need to resolve the situation soon - he must be registered at both bodies to play for either team in the top flight. (BBC)

Goian ‘trying to leave’ Rangers

Rangers’ Dorin Goian “will try and find a way out” of Rangers, according to his agent.

Goian was on tour at Spezia in the Italian second division last season. The Romanian’s agent Florin Manea said: “Goian has a contract for another year. But because Rangers will be playing in the Scottish third level, he’ll try and find a way out and take the road to England.

“We are in discussions with Championship clubs.”

SPL looking for Greggs deal

The SPL have opened top-secret talks with a potentially lucrative commercial partner - Greggs the bakers.

The Record report that the high street bakery giant have been in talks to sell their products at SPL grounds, as well as at sides with high attendances outside the top flight such as Rangers.

An SPL source said that clubs’ individual deals with local producers - such as Kilmarnock’s partnership with the famous Killie Pie - would be a stumbling block for the deal, while the MD of Pars Foods who supply Celtic and St Mirren said that the move could hurt small businesses.

Terry happy to talk contracts

Terry Butcher is happy to begin negotiations for a new deal at Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Thistle manager is currently tied to the Highland side until the end of the coming season, and said that while contract talks are low on his agenda he is keen to discuss the matter with chairman Kenny Cameron.

Butcher said: “We will certainly have a conversation with the chairman as the club is in a very good place at the moment and we want to make it even better. (P&J)

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Former Rangers star Kirk Broadfoot is close to signing for Ipswich Town. The defender is out of contract after leaving Blackpool.

• Henrik Larsson made a comeback from retirement last night - alongside his 15-year-old son.

Larsson played the last five minutes of Hogaborg’s 4-2 win over Tenhult, helping the club through an injury crisis at centre-forward.

• Ticket touts have been making 100% profits on tickets for Celtic’s Aviva Stadium clash with Liverpool. The £20-£50 briefs have been spotted on eBay for £100, after the game sold out almost instantly when tickets went on sale to the public.

Rumour Mill: Virgil van Dijk | Wanyama | Brittain