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Scottish gossip: Rangers, Jefte, Cordoba, Celtic, Hibs, Gray, Neil – BBC Sport

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5 months ago

May 23, 2024

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Scottish gossip: Rangers, Jefte, Cordoba, Celtic, Hibs, Gray, Neil – BBC Sport

Image caption, Liam Kelly left Rangers in 2018 and joined Motherwell in 2021

23 May 2024

Potential incomings at Celtic and Rangers as managerless Hibernian consider next move…

Brazilian left-back Jefte, the 21-year-old whom Rangers agreed to buy from Fluminense in January while he was on loan to Apoel Nicosia, is on his way to complete medical tests and join the Ibrox club. (Fabrizio Romano on X)

Jefte’s arrival could be quickly followed by Liam Kelly’s return to Rangers, with the goalkeeper out of contract at Motherwell. (Sun)

Jose Cordoba wants a move to Norwich City instead of Rangers despite the 22-year-old centre-half having agreed a preliminary deal to join the Ibrox club from Levski Sofia. (Gong.bg)

Oscar Cortes says he is talking to his agents, current club Lens and Rangers about his future after the 20-year-old winger’s loan at Ibrox was cut short by injury but stresses he has not given up on his dream of playing for Real Madrid one day. (Glasgow Times)

Celtic are interested in 22-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk left-back Irakli Azarov along with a French Ligue 1 club and an Italian Serie A club. (Geo Team)

Anderlecht will go all out to sign goalkeeper Koen Casteels, the 31-year-old Belgium goalkeeper who is interesting Celtic as he prepares to leave Wolfsburg at the end of his contract. (Niewsblad)

Daniel Kelly will sit down with Celtic for more contract talks this week – despite interest in the 18-year-old midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen. (Football Scotland)

Atalanta’s Europa League final win has boosted Hearts’ hopes of direct entry into the group stage of next season’s competition, which would be sealed if Borussia Dortmund defeat Real Madrid in the Champions League final. (Sun)

Aberdeen winger Vicente Besuijen is “in the form of his life” on loan to Emmen after scoring six goals in his past seven games as they chase promotion to the Dutch top flight. (Press and Journal – subscription)

Meanwhile, though Peter Leven is keen to become a permanent manager in the future after a spell in interim charge of Aberdeen, he is in no rush and is content to continue coaching at Pittodrie in the meantime. (Press and Journal – subscription)

Hibernian will draw up a managerial shortlist in the coming days as they close in on appointing Nick Montgomery’s successor and, while caretaker boss David Gray will be one of those interviewed for the position, St Mirren’s Stephen Robinson is not in the running. (Record)

New Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay and club chiefs have placed interim boss Gray on a shortlist to be their new head coach. (Sun)

Birmingham City have held initial talks with Alex Neil after Tony Mowbray stepped down as manager, with the former Stoke City manager regarded as a good option after promotions with Norwich City, Sunderland and Hamilton Academical. (Telegraph)

Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has rejected an offer from Newcastle United to replace Dan Ashworth in a similar role and the former Scotland forward will stay with the Eagles. (Football Insider)