Scottish Gossip: Celtic, Hibs, Rangers, Hearts, Dundee, Scottish Open golf – BBC Sport

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FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Kris Commons will resist the chance to join Neil Lennon at Hibs – and fight for his place at Celtic. (Various)

Rangers are looking to beat English champions Leicester City to the signing of Finnish starlet Serge Atakayi after offering him a trial. (Daily Mail, print edition)

Nir Bitton has emerged as a summer signing target for big-spending La Liga outfit Espanyol. (Scottish Sun)

Kris Commons trains with Celtic<!–

Celtic midfielder Kris Commons is currently recovering from a back operation, but is expected to resume full training shortly

Neil Lennon has vehemently disputed Scott McDonald’s claim that Hibs never made a serious offer to take him to Easter Road. (Various)

West Brom are closing in on a £5.5m deal for QPR’s Scotland winger Matt Phillips. (Daily Mail)

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson hopes to finalise the addition of Viktor Noring by the end of the week after offering the Swedish goalkeeper a 12-month deal. (Various)

Rangers assistant boss David Weir is adamant that managing man of many words Joey Barton will be no sentence for the Ibrox coaching staff. (Various)

Hamilton Accies could offer former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati a shock return to Scotland after the 35-year-old joined Martin Canning’s squad on their pre-season trip to Spain. (Scottish Sun)

Erik Cikos is convinced Ross County can provide him with a passport back into the Slovakia national squad – and a date with Gordon Strachan’s Scotland. (Press and Journal)

Moussa Dembele will make his Celtic debut in Slovenia tomorrow evening, with Brendan Rodgers confirming his new striker will play some part. (The Times, print edition)

Dundee United’s French flop Florent Sinama Pongolle has signed for Thai club Chainat Hornbill. (Daily Mail, print edition)

Michael Duffy is determined to dazzle at Dundee – and prove he has a future at Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic. (Various)

New Motherwell signing Dean Brill believes his 10-month injury lay-off has made him an even better goalkeeper. (Scottish Sun)

St Johnstone travelled to Belfast for their pre-season training camp without David Wotherspoon, who has remained in Scotland after having an operation on his wrist. (The Courier)

OTHER GOSSIP

Castle Stuart golf chiefs have a rescue plan in place if the Inverness links is hit by the type of floods that wiped out an entire day’s play the first time the venue hosted the Scottish open in 2011. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Scottish golfer Jamie McLeary is hoping the mystery of his vanishing golf clubs will not scupper his chances at this week’s Scottish Open. (Press and Journal)

Andy Butchart is to get a dress rehearsal for a potential Olympic clash with Mo Farah at the Anniversary Games in London this month. (Various)

Two-time European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth will find out over the new few days if he is up to passing golf exams on and off the course. (The Scotsman, print edition)