FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic have closed in on signing Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan from under the noses of Rangers.

(Daily Express) 

And Hibs boss Alan Stubbs insists he only ever said he would not sell midfielder Allan to Scottish Championship rivals Rangers, who have had three bids for the player rejected.

(Sun – subscription required) 

Allan, who grew up a Rangers fan, is prepared to join Premiership champions Celtic in a deal that would take Dylan McGeouch and possibly Liam Henderson from Glasgow to Hibs.

(Daily Record) 

Meanwhile, Stubbs has called for the transfer window to be shut before the season begins.

(Scotsman) 

Celtic manager Ronny Deila insists defender Virgil van Dijk will not be leaving until the club’s goal of reaching the Champions League group stages has been fulfilled.

(Sun – subscription required) 

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is confident he will sign Dutchman Van Dijk before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month.

(Daily Record) 

Inverness Caledonian Thistle expect to lose midfielder Ryan Christie after Swansea joined the hunt for the 20-year-old.

(Daily Express) 

Caley Thistle manager John Hughes will allow Christie to leave the Highlanders, so long as the he is loaned back to Inverness for the remainder of the season.

(Sun – subscription required) 

Dundee manager Paul Hartley has avoided a touchline ban after being sent to the stand in the wake of celebrating a stoppage-time equaliser against Dundee United on Tuesday evening.

(Daily Express) 

Hartley feels “sense” prevailed while maintaining that he will not rein in his goal celebrations.

(Daily Record) 

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan is refusing to panic even though Scotland coach Gordon Strachan has only two months left on his contract, believing the 58-year-old is committed for the long haul.

(Daily Record) 

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter insists there are “a whole raft of positions” up for grabs in his final Rugby World Cup squad after naming an experimental line-up to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

(Scotsman)