Here is the latest news involving Celtic and Glasgow Rangers just weeks away from the start of the transfer window.
A report in the Daily Record has suggested that Rangers target Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is currently planning to leave Aston Villa when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The Record adds that the Gers would be able to sign the 18-year-old on a pre-contract deal during the January transfer window for as little as around £220,000 if the striker does decide that he wants to move to Ibrox.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton has insisted that he does not regret his decision to join Rangers in the summer, despite the disappointing way that his short-lived spell at Ibrox came to an end, BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily reports.
The 34-year-old made just a handful of appearances for the Gers and spent much of his time with the club suspended, but he insists that he does not feel the decision to sign was a mistake.
“No, I’d still have signed for Rangers – it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass,” he told BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily.
Kenny Dalglish has suggested that it was always too much to ask to expect Mark Warburton’s men to challenge for the Scottish Premiership title this season, the Daily Record reports.
The Light Blues find themselves second in the table during their first season back at the highest level, but well adrift of the leaders, Celtic. And Dalglish has suggested that they were always going to need time.
“This season was never going to be one you’d think they would run Celtic close. This is a time for Rangers time to evolve because they made a bundle of new signings in the summer and they must be given time,” he said, as reported by the Record.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele
Meanwhile, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has told talkSPORT that he does not expect Moussa Dembele to leave Parkhead during the January transfer window.
The youngster is attracting plenty of attention, and while Rodgers would later suggest that an exit is inevitable, he does not believe that it will happen next month.
“No, I don’t think it will be January,” he told talkSPORT.
“At Celtic, you know how it is. We know how it is. If we get a really talented player there’s probably a cycle of a couple of years with them.”
Celtic’s Patrick Roberts
Patrick Roberts has suggested that he is simply concentrating on the rest of his loan spell at Celtic rather than his prospects back with parent club Manchester City, the Daily Mail reports.
The winger stunned City in midweek with a goal against them in the Champions League, and he reaffirmed that his loyalties currently lie with the Hoops.
“I want to finish the season strongly with Celtic and see where it goes from there,” he said, as reported by the Mail.
Finally, Craig Gordon has suggested that Celtic’s experience in this season’s Champions League should boost their chances of success next time, the Evening Times reports.
“I have loved it. I enjoyed trying to play the way we wanted to play and I think we will get even better – if we get back into the Champions League we will be even better because of the experience we have had this season,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times.
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