Celtic lead race for starlet, two Rangers targets emerge, Hearts agree deal for 22y/o - Scottish transfers

Hearts agree deal for 22y/o

Jordi Altena will reportedly undergo a Hearts medical in the next 24 hours and pen a long-term contract at Tynecastle Park. According to the Edinburgh Evening News, a deal has been agreed in principle between Hearts and the Dutch defender’s current club, RKC Waalwijk, for a transfer fee of more than £500,000. Altena, 22, was identified by Jamestown Analytics as an attacking right-back suited to the Scottish league.

Head coach Derek McInnes was reluctant to comment on Altena until everything is finalised. “There's nothing I can say about that,” he replied when asked today about the impending transfer. “Only the fact that we're keen to make a couple of signings this window. Obviously Islam [Chesnokov] is one. We're looking to try and do a couple more if we can and come out the window a wee bit stronger than where we're at.”

Hearts have verbally agreed to sign St Johnstone’s Josh McPake next summer on a pre-contract, but there is no plan for a quick deal in January for the former Rangers forward.

Two Rangers targets emerge

Rangers have been linked with a move to re-sign Josh Windass. The 31-year-old attacking midfielder is currently with Wrexham but previously played under Rangers manager Danny Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday. Windass also had a spell at Ibrox between 2016 and 2018, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 73 appearances.

The Daily Record claim that Wrexham have already knocked back an initial offer from Rangers for the Englishman, who has scored six goals and three assists this season following his move from Hillsborough in the summer.

Rangers are also said to be interested in Westerlo left-back Tuur Rommens. The 22-year-old has made 78 appearances for the Belgian Pro League side over the past two years, and has been capped nine times by Belgium Under 21s. Rommens is under contract with his current side until the summer of 2027.

Celtic lead race for starlet

Celtic are understood to be leading the race to sign Dundalk teenager Vinnie Leonard.

The Scottish champions have reportedly been monitoring the highly-regarded 17-year-old for some time and have now opened talks with the Irish club over a move for the defender.

Genoa, Lyon and Norwich City have also been linked with Leonoard, who has caught the eye with impressive performances since signing his first professional deal with Dundalk last year.

The Daily Record claim it would take a "significant six figure fee plus add-ons" for Dundalk to sell with the Hoops planning to keep Leonard on-loan at the Irish club for the remainder of the season if their bid is successful.