Four Celtic deals, Rangers do business, Japan interest, Braga on Hearts exit - Scottish transfer news
The latest transfer news in Scotland ahead of the window closing
The transfer window closes on Thursday for clubs in Scotland and a flurry of activity is expected over the next 48 hours.
Celtic and Rangers are both looking for new players - but the activity won’t just end in Glasgow.
Here are the latest transfer stories and gossip this Tuesday morning:
Celtic bolster midfield
Celtic are expected to confirm the double arrival of midfielders Oliver Sorensen and Joel van den Berg in the next 24 hours.
The pair were pictured arriving at Glasgow Airport on Monday evening after Celtic brokered deals with Parma for Sorensen and PSV Eindhoven for Van den Berg.
Sorensen, 24, is a Danish box-to-box midfielder who will join on loan with an option to buy, while Celtic are set to pay in the region of £3.4 million for Van den Berg, who is a 19-year-old No 8.
The duo will fill the void left by Arne Engels, who joined West Ham earlier this month.
Left-back and goalkeeper remains priorities
Celtic also want to add a goalkeeper and a left-back before the window closes and are assessing their options.
Blackburn Rovers’ Balazs Toth and Wolves’ Sam Johnstone are both being considered as competition for current No 1 Viljami Sinisalo. Toth is part of the Blackburn squad for Tuesday’s match at Lincoln despite serious interest from Celtic and others, while it is being reported that the Scottish champions have made a loan inquiry for former England keeper Johnstone.
With Kieran Tierney as Celtic’s only senior left-back option, club chiefs are keen to bring in a deputy.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s French defender Niels Nkounkou has emerged as a potential options, although Nice are also keen on him.
Rangers set to announce striker
Portland Timbers striker Kevin Kelsy was completing his medical on Monday ahead of his £9 million move to Rangers.
The 22-year-old Venezuelan is expected to be Rangers’ new No 9 and will fill the void left by Youssef Chermiti, who is out for months with an ACL injury.
Kelsy’s arrival would allow out-of-favour striker Bojan Miovski to depart, with Dutch side Feyenoord expressing an interest on loan for the North Macedonian.
Rangers are still considering options on the wing and remain interested in Brighton wide man Amario Cozier-Duberry.
Tavernier to find new club
Former Rangers captain James Tavernier is closing in on a switch to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Tavernier has been a free agent since ending his 11-year association with Rangers earlier this summer, but is now on the verge of finding a new club.
The 34-year-old was due to travel to Israel on Tuesday to finalise his move to Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are one of the biggest clubs in the country.
Tavernier will be managed by his former Rangers teammate Kenny Miller, who is in charge of the Premier League club.
Hearts want teenage pair
Hearts hope to wrap up deals for two teenagers before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
They are in talks with Grasshoppers Zurich for 18-year-old midfielder Leart Kabashi, while Vikingur Gota winger Aron Benjaminsen - also 18 - is on the brink of joining from Vikingur Gota.
Hearts are also open to offer for out-of-favour trio Sander Kartum, Yan Dhanda and Elton Kabangu.
They may also field bids for midfielder Tomas Magnusson, who has suitors on continent.
Braga opens up on transfer talk
Claudio Braga says he is happy at Hearts and will only leave if the deal is right for him and the club amid speculation that he could leave before the end of the window.
"It's a lot of talk and a hard time, in a way, but for a good reason also, so I could never be ungrateful for that," Braga told Premier Sports' Scottish Football Social Club. "At the same time I think, and I've said it and will say it 1000 times, if something happens it will be good for me and good for Hearts.
"I could never go if it was only good for me. Or only good for Hearts. I feel like we are on the same page me and the board and, yeah. I don't know nothing until now, I have no idea what is going to happen, so I can promise nothing.
"I don't like to promise and then if something happens I shall feel bad. But I love my time at Hearts, I am so grateful that I play here and have been welcomed the way I was. I love that I'm here.”
Phillips could leave St Mirren
St Mirren’s prized asset Killian Phillips could be the subject of late interest before the transfer window closes.
The Irish midfielder was wanted by Aberdeen earlier this summer, although it appears the Dons have cooled after being quoted a price in excess of £500,000.
However, the Scottish Sun report that clubs as far afield as Japan are weighing up a bid for the 24-year-old.
Phillips has started the season well for St Mirren, who would not want to lose the player so late in the window.
Yengi leaves Aberdeen
Kusini Yengi has joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima from Aberdeen on loan for the remainder of the season. The Japanese club hold an option to make the move permanent.
The 27-year-old Australia international signed for the Dons in the summer of 2025 having spent two years with EFL Championship side Portsmouth.
He moved to Japanese club Cerezo Osaka in January but his loan spell was ended after four appearances due to injury.
Yengi will move on in search of more regular game time and Dons boss Stephen Robinson told the club’s official website: “Competition for places in forward areas is strong, and together we felt that a loan move to Sanfrecce Hiroshima where he can play regularly is the right step.”
United sell Sevelj
Dundee United have sold midfielder Vicko Sevelj to Azerbaijan Premier League side Neftci for an undisclosed fee.
The Croatian midfielder made 88 appearances for United after arriving from NK Radomlje two years ago.
A United statement read: “Everybody at the club thanks Vicko for his efforts in Tangerine and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.”
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