Rangers look to do deal for Morelos
● Path clears for champions to sign Dons winger as Welsh side withdraw their offer
Rangers are pursuing a deal for the Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos who is enjoying a prolific stint with Finnish side HJK Helsinki.
The 20-year-old has netted 30 goals in 43 league outings in Finland – 11 of these in 12 games this season for HJK who are the league leaders.
Morelos moved to Finland on loan initially before sealing a £425,000 permanent transfer from Independiente Medellín in January. He was awarded the league’s best striker of the year award after scoring 30 goals in all competitions in the 2016 season.
It is thought that Ibrox first team coach and fellow Finn Jonatan Johansson alerted Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha to Morelos, who also scored four goals in six Europa League appearances last season.
HJK Helsinki are likely to want treble the fee they paid for the young striker and if Rangers can meet that valuation then Morelos could become club’s fifth summer signing after the recruitment of Bruno Alves, Ryan Jack, Dalcio and Fabio Cardoso.
Rangers will also need to secure a work permit for Morelos who is a Colombian under-20 international.
The Ibrox are also hoping to obtain work permits for Mexican pair Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera.
Celtic are once again favourites to sign Jonny Hayes after Cardiff City were reported to have withdrawn their bid for the Aberdeen winger.
Cardiff were understood to have matched the £1.2 million valuation for the player who is under contract at Pittodrie until 2019. However the Championship side, who failed with two bids to sign Hayes in the January transfer window, have now ended their pursuit of the Republic of Ireland international, according to Sky Sports, leaving Celtic, who have tabled a similar offer, as the leading bidders.
Hayes was a key player for Derek Mcinnes’ side last season, making 43 appearances and scoring 11 goals as they finished runners-up to Celtic in the Premiership. To counter the potential loss of the influential winger, Mcinnes is seeking to bring Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie back to Pittodrie as part of any deal with the champions. The 22-yearold enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Dons last term.
Celtic, meanwhile, have gone through the 50,000 mark for season tickets sold for 201718. Demand is high following a unique and historic treble-winning season where Brendan Rodgers’ side went unbeaten domestically.
The Parkhead club have won six consecutive Ladbrokes Premiership titles and begin their quest for Champions League football next season in the qualifiers which start in mid-july.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “We are delighted that so many fans want to share in this exciting season and everyone at Celtic would like to sincerely thank our season book holders for their continued commitment to the club. As ever, we will be doing all we can to ensure that it is another successful season.” Meanwhile, defender Eoghan O’connell has signed a three-year deal with Lee Clark’s Bury side after leaving Celtic.
The 21-year-old Irish centre-back made 13 first-team appearances for Celtic and spent the second half of last season on loan with Walsall.
O’connell told Bury’s official website: “I know that Lee wanted me to go to Kilmarnock whilst he was managing there, but it just never happened at that time. It’s just very nice to be wanted and I’m just happy we could get it done this time.”