FORMER Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been linked with a move to Celtic Park. The 35-year-old is a free agent after leaving Olympiacos and said of the potential move: "Celtic is a great team. Let me speak with Brendan, then we will see."
Numerous reports on social media are suggesting that Celtic are preparing a bid for Aberdeen's 22-year-old central defender Scott McKenna. Earlier in the season, Aberdeen were reportedly holding out for a £10 million bid for the Scotland international.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has said that his team "probably" overperformed in Europe this season and says the Ibrox club are aiming for silverware this season. "Look, it's all to play for," said Gerrard. "The important thing is for us to focus on the next three points, but I am not going to sit here and lie, we have got targets, in house, that we all want to go and achieve and that is the way it should be at a big club."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says that Belgian international Dedryck Boyata is going nowhere in the January transfer window and Rodgers expects the defender to remain at the club until next summer - even if it means losing Boyata for nothing once his contract expires. "Dedryck will just stay calm and see out the season and then see where he’s at," said Rodgers. "There will be interest in him of course but nothing concrete at the moment."
And Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie has insisted that his team-mates are at their physical and tactical peak going into the second half of the season, following their winter training camp in Dubai. The 23-year-old said: "We know how good we can be and this trip helps the manager get tactical ideas across and, when we come back, we can really kick on."
Stephen McManus and Damien Duff have joined Brendan Rodgers' backroom staff at Celtic Park as under-18 coach and reserve team coach respectively. Ex-Republic of Ireland international Duff said: "It is a massive honour to be given this opportunity and I am looking forward to playing my part in developing our young players of the future."
Aberdeen midfielder Connor McLennan has urged his team-mate Gary-Mackay-Steven to turn down an opportunity to play for New York City so that he can stay at Pittodrie and help his club challenge for the Premiership title. "I hope he stays," McLennan said. "He’s a massive player for us and one we have to hold on to if we’re going to make that big push at the end of the season."
Former Celtic manager has taken up the manager's role at Nottingham Forest, where he won the European Cup as a player. The Herald's Matthew Lindsay has asked if the English Championship club will provide a platform for O'Neill to rebuild his career.
And O'Neill's appointment at the City Ground could lead to on-loan Rangers defender Joe Worrall being recalled to his parent club. Forest legend Gary Birtles, who is a former team-mate of O'Neill's, said: "Joe was one of a few good young players who came through the youth ranks at Forest. I am sure he is one who Martin will look at very closely. There’s a possibility he could be brought back down."
Former Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee United striker Scott McDonald believes that Scott Brown could be enticed to Australia by the prospect of a mental break from the incessant pressure of life at Celtic. "Going to Australia gives the chance to lead more of a normal, family life and that may appeal," said McDonald.
In golf, the Herald's Nick Rodger says that some of Scottish golf's greatest exports such as Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie have been unfairly overlooked for the chance to captain the European Ryder Cup team.
And in rugby, Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill says that Vil Mata is not gotin ganywhere anytime soon. Cockerill said: "Vili will be here for a long time to come. I won’t be selling anybody ever out of our team that’s doing what Vili’s doing, or any other player. It’s as simple as that."
The Scottish Sun are reporting that Porto are preparing a £14 million bid of midfielder Olivier Ntcham, and will offer ex-Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba in a swap deal.
Inverness manager John Robertson has told the Press and Journal that his side are still contenders for the CHampionship title.
Rangers striker Ryan Hardie will be offered a new contract but could still be loaned back to Livingston for the second half of the season, according to the Daily Record.
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