Rangers target drops hint, Celtic eye offer for ‘Busquets-esque’ ace, Scotland star rejects Serie A - Scottish transfer news
Here are all the latest transfer reports from around the Scottish Premiership - including Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and Dundee United
The summer transfer window is yet to officially open for business, but the reports, rumours and deals are already underway as clubs across the country look to build their teams ahead of next season.
In your Thursday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest reports from Rangers, Celtic, the Scotland national team, and beyond:
Dundee United seal deal
Dundee United appear to have won the race to sign in-demand midfielder Dylan Tait following the expiry of his contract at Falkirk. The 24-year-old is understood to have rejected several offers from teams in the English Football League in order to pen a three-year contract with Jim Goodwin’s side at Tannadice.
The combative midfielder was a regular for John McGlynn’s side as they achieved a top-half finish on their return to the Scottish Premiership last season and had an offer on the table that would have seen him extend his stay with Falkirk, although it appears Tait has now chosen to sign for the Tangerines ahead of next season.
After rejecting the overtures of Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle, he will put pen to paper when his contract officially expires next month, becoming Dundee United’s fifth impending signing of the summer following the expected arrival of Jesse Randall, Lachie Rose, Joshua Rawlins, and the returning Jack Walton. Meanwhile, Falkirk are also expected to allow Gary Oliver and Sean Mackie to leave the club in search of regular game time when the transfer window re-opens next month.
Aberdeen push for trio
Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson is pushing to sign out-of-contract midfielder Alexander Briedl this summer as he looks to revamp his squad ahead of the new season. The 51-year-old is entering his first transfer window as Dons boss, having joined the club in March, and is looking to transform his team into top-half contenders after a hugely underwhelming campaign at Pittodrie last season.
As part of that rebuild, Robinson is hoping to lure the Blau Weiss Linz to the Scottish Premiership this summer, with the 24-year-old set to become a free agent following his side’s relegation from the Austrian Bundesliga. According to a report from the Daily Record, the club were alerted to the midfielder’s impressive pressing stats, with Aberdeen believing he could be a key addition as Robinson looks to impose his style of play at Aberdeen.
Robinson is also hoping to complete a double deal for Kilmarnock pair Brad Lyons and Lewis Mayo, who are out of contract at Rugby Park, with the pair expected to form part of the club’s new look squad next season.
Scotland ace rejects Serie A
Scotland captain Andy Robertson has rejected a late approach from Juventus in order to complete a Bosman free transfer move to Tottenham Hotspur. The long-serving Liverpool left-back is set to bring down the curtain on his trophy-laden career at Anfield when his contract expires this month, and a report from Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that the 31-year-old has reached a verbal agreement with the North London side that will see him sign for the club ahead of the World Cup next month.
Capped 92 times by the Scotland national team, Robertson had been close to a £5million move to Spurs in January, only for the experienced defender to opt to remain in Merseyside until the summer as Arne Slot’s side looked to seal a Champions League berth. It was claimed last month that he had committed to signing for Roberto De Zerbi’s team if they were able to escape relegation, and after the club finished in 17th position, Robertson is expected to rubber-stamp a deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite a late proposal from Juventus.
Rangers target drops hint
In demand Liverpool youngster Luca Stephenson admits he has some big decisions to make over his future this summer after entering the final year of his deal at Anfield. The versatile wing-back has been linked with a potential move to Rangers this summer after impressing on loan at Dundee United over the last two seasons, while newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers are also keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.
The former Sunderland academy player registered ten goal contributions last season at Tannadice, and has flourished in the Scottish top flight. However, Stephenson admits he has big decisions to make this coming summer, with numerous clubs said to be interested in taking him from Liverpool on a permanent basis.
“I’ve only got a year left on my contract at Liverpool,” Stephenson told The Courier. “So, I think the biggest priority for me is that, in my next step, I find a permanent home. I’ve done three years on loan and have developed a lot. So, I think the next thing needs to be different. That could still be at Liverpool, depending on what they are thinking. It could be back up in Scotland or in England – I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. But I am keen to get something permanent.
“I always think back to one thing the academy manager always said at Liverpool: ‘Once you’ve hit 100 senior games, I’ll let you know that you’ve made it (as a professional)’. I’ve now made more than 100 – a big landmark for me –, and I want to keep playing.”
Celtic prepare offer for ‘Busquets-esque’ ace
Celtic are preparing a move for Bosnia and Herzegovina international Benjamin Tahirovic this summer, with reports on the continent claiming the club is ‘working hard’ to complete a deal for the Brondby man before he jets off to the World Cup next month.
Tahirovic started just 13 league games for the Danish side last season after reportedly clashing with head coach Steve Cooper, who was sacked last week after failing to secure European qualification, but has interest from several clubs this summer, including Porto and Rangers. However, it is claimed that Celtic are in the strongest position to sign the player, with a "strong financial offer” said to be in place. Tahirovic has just two years left to run on his contract with the Danish Superliga giants.
Beginning his career in Sweden with Vasalunds, the Bosnian also represented AS Roma and Ajax prior to a £2.3million move to Brondby in February last year, and has been given comparisons to former Barcelona and Spain star Sergio Busquets in his home country due to his heavy focus on short-range distribution and ability to reset the tempo of a game.
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