Edouard set to seal Celtic loan
Time is of the essence for clubs to conclude wheeling and dealing
CELTIC are close to tying up a loan deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Odsonne Edouard — but their pursuit of a centre-half is set to go to the wire this evening after Jason Denayer agreed to return to Galatasaray. The Parkhead club were last
THE transfer window shuts tonight with many Scottish clubs still looking to do business. Celtic are determined to strengthen their squad for the Champions League campaign, while Rangers are still eager to prise Jamie Walker away from Hearts. Here, Sportsmail’s BRIAN MARJORIBANKS looks at where the wheeling and dealing could take place...
ABERDEEN
Derek McInnes has had a great summer, signing exciting players such as Greg Stewart, Stevie May, Ryan Christie and Gary Mackay-Steven. But he lamented the lack of height in his Dons squad after last Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 win at Partick Thistle. He is likely to try to add another defender to his squad, while he may also be seeking a holding midfielder to replace Ryan Jack, the captain who departed for Rangers.
Out-of-favour striker Jayden Stockley could leave before the window closes, with English League Two side Exeter keen to land the former Bournemouth target man.
CELTIC
Brendan Rodgers wants a centre-half, but that search will go down to the wire, with Jason Denayer set for Galatasaray instead of a second loan spell at Parkhead. The Scottish champions also pulled out of a deal to sign 20-year-old defender Rivaldo Coetzee from Ajax Cape Town due to a failed medical.
Rodgers is chasing a striker, as well, and is close to a deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Odsonne Edouard. French giants Marseille could yet be set to pounce on deadline day for star striker Moussa Dembele in a £25million move.
DUNDEE
Neil McCann last night signed former Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo defender Jon Aurtenetxe on a short-term deal until January. The Dens Park boss may also snap up Burnley forward Richard Pingling after injuries to Sofien Moussa, Craig Wighton and Marcus Haber.
HAMILTON
Martin Canning may try to add to his striking options, having salvaged a 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock last weekend without a recognised striker on the pitch. But if nothing materialises, he has Argentine forward Antonio Rojano, who was granted a work permit last week after penning a two-year deal.
HEARTS
Jamie Walker could yet be the subject of a bid from Rangers, but Hearts are holding out for £1million and Ibrox sources claim the move won’t happen without a drop in price.
Midfield is clearly an area that Craig Levein wants to strengthen, with Ross Callachan poised to join from Raith Rovers and Serbian Manuel Milinkovic still an option. There could also be departures, with Jordan McGhee to Falkirk the most likely.
HIBS
Nottingham Forest boss Mark Warburton last night failed with an increased £1.5m bid for midfielder John McGinn after having a previous £750,000 offer rejected.
Neil Lennon has vowed the club won’t be bullied into losing its star asset on the cheap and it remains to be seen whether Forest come back with a new bid today to test the Edinburgh club’s resolve.
Lennon remains interested in a reunion with Kris Commons. But the 34-year-old is not under contract and does not need to be signed by the midnight deadline. He remains around two weeks away from deciding whether he is ready to return from injury and get a new club.
KILMARNOCK
After adding 14 players to his squad over the summer, including defender Stuart Findlay last week, boss Lee McCulloch is not expecting any fresh recruits at Rugby Park. But fringe players could depart from a squad McCulloch views as ‘top-heavy’.
MOTHERWELL
Manager Stephen Robinson has already made 11 new signings this summer, but he would still like a wide attacker and a defender — with Blackburn Rovers keen to land centre-half Ben Heneghan.
Top scorer Louis Moult was the subject of a failed Aberdeen bid of £250,000 in July. The Dons are unlikely to come back in for a player whose contract expires next summer. But Robinson admitted last week: ‘I can’t dictate whether Louis will or won’t be here.’
PARTICK THISTLE
Alan Archibald has been busy during the window, but an injury to left-back Callum Booth leaves the Firhill boss racing against the clock to find a replacement full-back.
RANGERS
Rangers were last night closing in on the loan signing of Wales international Declan John from Cardiff. The Ibrox club could also make a late move for Hearts attacker Jamie Walker. But any deal would only go ahead if Hearts drop their £1m asking price.
Pedro Caixinha won’t be in the country to see deals over the line, as he rubs shoulders with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on a trip back to Portugal, studying at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Human Kinetics. Director of football Mark Allen will be on the case today after Caixinha admitted following last Sunday’s win over Ross County: ‘We know what we want. We are working on what we want and we hope to get it.’
ROSS COUNTY
Jim McIntyre is unlikely to be involved in any fresh deals, having already had a busy summer, including landing top target Ross Draper in a £100,000 move from Inverness Caley Thistle.
ST JOHNSTONE
There are unlikely to be any fresh arrivals at McDiarmid Park before the deadline. But Tommy Wright can be content with his summer dealings after landing playmaker Stefan Scougall, striker Denny Johnstone on loan and the Scottish Premiership’s current top scorer Michael O’Halloran.