Rangers target ex-£8m defender, Celtic striker conundrum, Man Utd’s big call, Hibs to be active – Scottish transfers
Fulham Athletic, who are about to rekindle their interest in the 27-year-old Scott McTominay, are still very much interested in acquiring the Scotland midfielder. After McTominay entered the game late for Fulham against Manchester United on Friday, the Cottagers’ £20 million approach for the player was turned down earlier in the transfer season. However, Fulham manager Marco Silva is eager to make another attempt to sign McTominay.
Despite spending his whole career at Old Trafford, McTominay has had difficulty breaking through into Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup. Man Utd would be willing to trade if the price is right, even though the Dutchman has frequently expressed his desire to have the player in his side. McTominay is reportedly being eyed by Italian Serie A team Napoli, who are also connected to Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour.
Due to the six-week absence of their first-choice left-back, Rangers have been connected to another left-back over the weekend. Since Jefte is presently their sole senior option in that part of the pitch due to Ridvan Yilmaz’s thigh injury sustained against Dynamo Kyiv last week, manager Philippe Clement may look to bolster his options. The Croatian left-back Domagoj Bradaric of Salernitana is the most recent player to be linked to a move to Ibrox. The 24-year-old, who previously cost almost £8 million to go from Hajduk Split to Lille, is a player in the second division of Italian football and has received four caps for the Croatian national team. Moreover, former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams surfaced as a potential target last.
Rangers have been linked with Croatian left-back Domagoj Bradaric.
Rangers have been linked with Croatian left-back Domagoj Bradaric. | Getty Images
Celtic striker poser
Celtic may be forced back into the transfer market for another striker should Kyogo Furuhashi decide to have surgery. The 29-year-old missed Sunday’s 3-1 win over Hibs due to the persistent issue he has with his shoulder and his manager Brendan Rodgers admitted an operation to cure the long-standing problem could be on the cards. Should that happen, Celtic may look to sign another forward ahead of the August 30 transfer deadline, with only Adam Idah as a recognised No 9.
On Furuhashi’s injury, Rodgers explained: “He’s had this issue for a long time – since long before he came to Celtic. It’s something he had in Japan and he’s managing his shoulder – and from time to time it gets a little bit irritable and sore. He could have surgery on it, but that probably takes him out for about four months. It’s only him that can decide that, because you can see that a lot of times he gets through games fine. He’s a 29-year-old man, so he’ll understand what he wants to do.”
Daizen Maeda filled in for Furuhashi as the main striker against Hibs and while he is able to play as an out-and-out striker, Rodgers knows he is at his most dangerous out wide. “I know Daizen can play as a striker,” said Rodgers. “I’ve said it before – he’s played in the World Cup as a striker, so he should be able to play for Celtic as a striker if we need him. But I know his best position or his favourite position is on the side.”
In the upcoming weeks, Hibs is anticipated to intensify their pursuit of a new center-half following their 3-1 loss to Celtic. Warren O’Hora and Marvin Ekpiteta have already been named head coach David Gray’s new center-half duo, but the Easter Road team has conceded eight goals in their last three games, two of which have come from mistakes made on defense. With O’Hora, Ekpiteta, and Rocky Bushiri as the only three senior recognized center halves for Hibs, the team will now expedite efforts to reinforce that part of the pitch before to the August 30 deadline. Owen Bevan of Bournemouth, whose January loan at Hibs was terminated owing to injury, might be one choice. Nevertheless, because of Hibs’ ties to the Cherries, the Welshman.
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