Celtic eye 32-cap ace, Rangers reject loan move, Hearts striker nears exit - Scottish transfer news

In your Sunday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest news from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, St Mirren and beyond as we keep you up to date with all the latest transfer headlines in the top flight and beyond.

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St Mirren add promotion winner

St Mirren have confirmed their eighth arrival of the summer transfer window with the free-transfer signing of Bristol Rovers winger Luke Thomas. Ahead of their 2-0 win over Falkirk on Saturday, the club confirmed he had penned a two-year deal with a club option for a third year, and he made his debut as a 75th-minute substitute in their league opener. A promotion winner with the Gas in the 2021/22 season, he’s made over 300 senior appearances playing for the likes of Cheltenham Town, Derby County, Coventry City, Barnsley and Ipswich Town.

“I’m really excited for this new opportunity and I can't wait to get going,” said Thomas. "After the first conversation I had with the gaffer, I remember getting off the phone and telling my agent to get it done and as quickly as that it was done. He told me how he likes to play and how he sees the game. He's so ambitious and that's what I am in my career. We're definitely on the same wavelength and I think it's going to be a really good relationship.

Livi snap up former favourite

Livingston have confirmed the return of former striker Bruce Anderson on a one-year deal following his departure from Kilmarnock earlier this summer. The 27-year-old had previously spent three years at Almondvale before moving to Rugby Park in the summer of 2024, where he bagged 30 goals in 115 appearances for the club.

The former Aberdeen man became the recently relegated side’s 10th signing of the summer transfer window, with new head coach Glenn Whelan overhauling a squad that had won just two league games last season. Anderson was not involved in yesterday’s 2-0 opening-day win over Queen’s Park at the Set Fare Arena, where two goals from Robbie Muirhead sealed all three points for the home side.

Hearts striker nears exit

Hearts striker Elton Kabangu is expected to leave the club this summer following conversations with new head coach Wouter Vrancken. According to a report from our sister publication, the Edinburgh Evening News, the player’s representatives have begun work on finding a new club for the Belgian forward. The Jambos are open to both permanent and loan moves for the out-of-favour marksman.

Signed on a three-year deal last summer when his loan move from Union Saint-Gilloise was made permanent, the 28-year-old struggled for first-team football under ex-boss Derek McInnes, and his situation is expected to be similar under incumbent Vracken, with the manager confirming he wouldn’t stop Kabangu leaving if an offer is made.

“I think it's in the interests of both the team and the player,” said the Hearts head coach. “They're working on it and we'll see. We'll see what happens. I think I was really open and honest with him in person. Not only with him, but with every player, actually. He knows what the situation is from my side. Now it's up to him to see what his next step has to be. I think his entourage is working on it.”

Rangers reject loan move

Rangers are not expected to pursue a deal for Scotland international Scott McKenna, despite claims over the weekend that a deal for the centre-back was close. According to several reports over the weekend, the Dinamo Zagreb defender was a target for the Ibrox club as they look to bolster their backline, but those reports appear to be wide of the mark.

It is now claimed that head coach Derek McInnes had explored a deal for the former Aberdeen man earlier in the summer, with a loan deal considered several weeks ago. However, the club backed out of that deal due to the finances involved, and instead opted to pursue a deal for Philadelphia Union youngster Olwethu Makhanya, who joined the club last week.

Meanwhile, former Rangers loan star Mikey Moore has major interest from EFL Championship promotion chasers Middlesbrough, with his parent club Tottenham Hotspur considering letting him leave on loan again. However, according to a report in The Standard, the former Ibrox fan favourite is holding out for a move to a club in Europe’s top five leagues. The English second-tier club have also been credited with an interest in Moore’s teammate Ashley Phillips.

Celtic eye 32-cap ace

Celtic are preparing to launch a move for Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis this summer as they look for potential replacements for Arne Engels, who has confirmed interest from West Ham United. The Scottish champions are facing a serious battle to hang on to the Belgian playmaker this summer, though the club are understood to be holding out for a £25million fee.

However, with the interest in Engels’ signature unlikely to die down any time soon, Celtic have long begun their search for a replacement, with Lithuanian midfielder Gineitis first linked to the club over a month ago, when reports claimed he had been watched by club scouts in Serie A for several months.

The 22-year-old has been a regular at the Stadio Olimpico Grande, making 29 appearances for the club last season, and is under contract with the Italian outfit until the summer of 2022. Capped 32 times by Lithuania, he made his international debut aged just 18. According to a report from transfer journalist Nico Schira, the club are now preparing their first official offer for Gineitis, with Torino understood to be looking at offers of around £15million.