Transfer window shopping: SPL movers and shakers

Hearts

IN: An SPL transfer embargo means Hearts can’t sign anyone until they pay outstanding bonuses and appearance money. If and when that is done there will be restrictions in place which mean they can only sign players who are under 21 on a “one out, one in” basis. Any new player must be on a lower salary than the departing one.

OUT: Ryan McGowan, left, is leaving Hearts for China to sign for Shandong Luneng for a reported £400,000. Reserve goalkeeper Peter Enckelman has left. Other departures are likely as the club seeks to bridge a funding gap. The contracts of Andy Webster, Marius Zaliukas and Andrew Driver expire at the end of the season and Hearts may have to sell one or more.

Aberdeen

IN: All quiet on the north-eastern front. Craig Brown spent big in the summer to sign Niall McGinn, Johnny Hayes and Gary Naysmith so there’s little left in the kitty.

OUT: Ryan Fraser is out of contract at the end of the season but Aberdeen may decide to sell the winger in this window to maximise their fee. Huddersfield are the latest club credited with an interest. Reserve keeper Jason Brown says he now wants to stay despite previously indicating a wish to leave in January.

St Johnstone

IN: Stevie May is expected to return to the club after his loan spell at Hamilton. Saints have also been linked with Hibs winger Ivan Sproule. Aberdeen winger Peter Pawlett has extended his loan deal until 20 January.

OUT: Murray Davidson, Liam Craig and Dave Mackay are free to speak to other clubs. Rangers have expressed interest in signing Davidson when their transfer embargo is lifted in September and Craig is understood to be a target for Hibs. Promising midfielder Liam Caddis has gone on loan to Cowdenbeath, initially for a month.

St Mirren

IN: Newcastle United midfielder Conor Newton, left, has joined on loan but Saints’ hopes of extending the loan deal for another St James’ Park youngster, Paul Dummett, look to have been thwarted with the left-back playing for Newcastle in their FA Cup defeat at Brighton yesterday.

OUT: Kenny McLean is the key asset but Saints have warned it will take a bid of around £750,000 to prise him away.

Celtic

IN: Israeli international Rami Gershon, left, has flown in for talks and should seal a deal before the SPL resumes on 19 January. The left-sided defender will sign on loan from Standard Liege until the end of the season, with Celtic having the option of making the deal permanent by paying £800,000.

OUT: Fringe midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim has left for Kilmarnock. Thomas Rogne’s lack of first-team opportunities could see him move, with AIK Stockholm interested. The Swedes are also keen to re-sign striker Mo Bangura on loan. Celtic’s main concern will be hanging on to Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama and Beram Kayal.

Dundee

IN: Striker Colin Nish, below, has extended his loan deal from Hartlepool until the end of the season. Manager Barry Smith has been given a stay of execution and told there is money to spend as he seeks a way to claw back the nine-point deficit at the foot of the table. Gary Harkins of Kilmarnock is one player they’ve been linked with.

OUT: Nothing imminent with Dundee needing to hang on to everyone as they desperately battle to beat the drop.

Dundee United

IN: Manager Peter Houston is keen to extend Rudi Skacel’s stay at Tannadice. The Czech midfielder’s deal expires this month.

OUT: Fleetwood Town have a new manager in Graham Alexander and money to spend and the English League 2 side are interested in signing Jon Daly, United’s captain and top scorer last season.

Hibernian

IN: Hibs are anxious to hold on to on-loan trio Leigh Griffiths, Ryan McGivern and Jorge Claros. Their best hope may be to extend the loan deals but that will hinge on the parent clubs, Wolves, Manchester City and Honduran side Motagua, respectively. Manager Pat Fenlon says he has a plan B if one, two or all of the trio leave, and has admitted an interest in a loan move for Vancouver Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller. St Johnstone’s Liam Craig has also been strongly linked with Hibs.

OUT: Apart from the danger of losing Griffiths, McGivern and Claros, Hibs may look to move on Pa Kujabi and Danny Galbraith. Ivan Sproule could be offered to St Johnstone if Hibs pursue Craig. Young midfielder Sam Stanton has joined Cowdenbeath on loan until the end of the season.

Inverness CT

IN: Fleetwood Town defender Danny Devine is expected to have a medical this week after agreeing to move to Inverness until the summer. The 20-year-old Northern Irish centre-half has spent this season on loan at Wrexham but has opted for the SPL high flyers instead of extending his stay in Wales.

OUT: Manager Terry Butcher will be desperate to hang on to the free-scoring Billy McKay whose 18 strikes this season have attracted admiring glances. Youngsters George Brislen-Hall and Andre Martins have been released.

Kilmarnock

IN: Rabiu Ibrahim, left, joins from Celtic on a two-year deal. The former Sporting Lisbon and PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder is currently with Nigeria preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, although the Super Eagles have yet to confirm their final squad

OUT: Killie have played down suggestions of a rift between manager Kenny Shiels and midfielder Gary Harkins, but Dundee have been credited with an interest in the attacking midfielder. The Rugby Park side are anxious to tie down goalkeeper Cammy Bell on a new deal.

Motherwell

IN: Defender Fraser Kerr has extended his loan deal until the end of the season. Kerr, 19, began his career at Fir Park before joining Birmingham City in 2009. He has yet to make a first-team appearance for the English club.

OUT: Jamie Murphy, left, has joined Sheffield United for an initial £100,000 fee which could rise to a reported £250,000. Lech Poznan retain an interest in Henrik Ojamaa, although Motherwell manager Stuart McCall is adamant there will be no more big-name departures. Defender Jonathan Page has been released and is likely to join Hamilton – where he has been on loan – until the end of the season. Nicky Devlin has extended his loan at Dumbarton until the end of January.

Ross County

IN: Manager Derek Adams is keeping his cards close to his chest. He was interested in Derek Riordan in the summer but no deal was done. The striker is a free agent again after being released by Bristol Rovers.

OUT: Striker Steven Craig, above, has left to join Partick Thistle after a successful loan spell at Firhill. County have also released defender John Bateson, forward Kurtis Byrne, midfielder Russell Duncan and goalkeeper Joe Malin.