Celtic ace in EPL link, Rangers 'contact' World Cup star, Aberdeen prepare for exit - Scottish transfer news
The latest Scottish transfer news on Wednesday morning - including reports from Celtic, Rangers, and Aberdeen beyond.
The Scottish Premiership is set to return in just nine days, and the completed deals, transfer rumours and reports are coming thick and fast as managers across the country look to build their squads ahead of opening day.
In your Wednesday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest news from Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and beyond as we keep you up to date with all the latest completed deals, reports and rumours from across the country.
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Aberdeen prepare for exit
Aberdeen could be set to lose goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov this summer, with head coach Stephen Robinson admitting that several clubs are interested in the Bulgarian. The Dons have been extremely active in the transfer window, adding a total of 11 new faces to the squad, with experienced German stopper Marius Muller being the club’s latest arrival.
The signing of the 33-year-old Wolfsburg goalkeeper has now opened a pathway for Mitov to depart Pittodrie this summer, and Robinson was honest in his assessment of the 29-year-old’s future at the club. “Every player is looking to see what is out there,” said Robinson. “I’ve had conversations with Dimi, and I have a brilliant relationship with him.
“He has been very, very good for me since he came in. There has been a lot of interest in Dimi, without there being anything concrete. It would be wrong of me and the board not to be prepared for that. We felt when the opportunity came up, we weren’t in a rush for it but when Marius came up it was too good an opportunity to turn down. It leaves us is a good position should something come in.”
Ex-St Mirren man finds new club
Former St Mirren striker Mikael Mandron is expected to sign for EFL League One outfit Stevenage this summer after seeing a move to Oxford United collapse after the club were slapped with a transfer embargo. A Premier Sports Cup winner with the Paisley outfit last year, the 31-year-old rejected an offer to extend his stay at the SMiSA Stadium at the end of last season, having scored 32 goals over the last three seasons.
Amid tentative interest from Charlton Athletic and Leicester City, the French-born striker fully agreed on personal terms to switch to Oxford as a free agent in recent weeks, but was unable to complete the switch after they were hit with a temporary transfer embargo for failing to comply with the EFL Salary Cost Management Protocol regulations. However, according to reports, the ex-Sunderland academy product is now expected to sign a two-year deal at Lamex Stadium.
Rangers ‘contact’ World Cup star
Philadelphia Union have confirmed that reported Rangers transfer target Olwethu Makhanya is “spending time away” from the club, as interest mounts in the defender’s signature. The South African international is one of the hottest properties in the MLS, with several EFL Championship clubs, while Belgian giants Genk have already seen one bid rejected for the centre-back.
Makhanya, 22, is yet to return to training with Union, and is understood to be upset that the club have rejected approaches for him. According to a report from Tom Bogert in the Athletic, the South African believes the club “broke a promise to let him go to Europe if an offer came”, with Rangers understood to have made contact with both the club and the player over a deal to bring him to Ibrox, though talks are not at an advanced stage.
Speaking ahead of this week’s game with New York Red Bulls, interim boss Ryan Richter spoke on the future of the starlet, saying: “I worked with Olwethu when he first joined the club. We have a good personal relationship. But right now, his situation is that he’s away from the club for personal reasons, and I think we’re going to leave it like that for now with him.”
Celtic ace in EPL link
Celtic are bracing themselves for summer interest in star right-back Alistair Johnston following his impressive performances at the World Cup with co-hosts Canada. The 27-year-old missed the bulk of last season with a troublesome hamstring issue, but returned for the final five games of the campaign and made a major impact as Celtic secured a fifth successive league title win with a final-day win over Hearts.
The Montreal-born defender continued that impressive form as the Canada national team made history at this summer’s World Cup by making the last-16 of the tournament, and that has alerted English Premier League side Everton to his services. According to reports, Toffees boss David Moyes is weighing up a move for the player, with Fulham also credited with an interest in his services.
Moyes is in the market for a new right-back after seeing the long-serving Seamus Coleman exit the club at the end of last season, while his Scotland international Nathan Patterson is expected to depart the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Eintracht Frankfurt understood to be considering a move for the former Rangers man.
Meanwhile, Celtic are understood to have agreed a deal to sell Japan international Daizen Maeda to newly promoted English Premier League side Ipswich Town. The club are expected to receive a fee of around £10million. A report from Sky Sports claims that fee will be an initial fee of £8million upfront, with £2million included as add-ons in the deal.
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