Celtic given striker update, Rangers target more incomings, Hibs man in demand - Scottish transfer news

In your Thursday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest news from Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell, Hibs and beyond as we keep you up to date with all the latest completed deals, reports and rumours from across the country.

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Motherwell land record deal

Motherwell have confirmed that midfielder Elijah Just has completed his move to EFL Championship side Swansea City for a club record fee. The 26-year-old departs Fir Park after just one season and has signed a three-year contract with an option for a further 12 months. The Welsh outfit have confirmed he will wear squad number eight.

The New Zealand international was a Scottish Premiership player of the year nominee last season after scoring seven goals and assisting seven more, as he helped the Steelmen seal a spot in the Conference League qualifiers with a fourth-placed finish. Motherwell have said that the overall fee will remain undisclosed “under the terms of the agreement with Swansea”. However, reports in the player’s homeland indicate they’ll receive around £6million for his services.

“I want to wish Elijah all the very best for the future,” said Motherwell CEO Brian Caldwell: “His 12 months at the club will be remembered fondly by everyone, and he is a humble and genuine person who deserves every success. As a club, this move marks another hugely successful moment for our overall strategy. Setting a new record sale for the second time in the space of 11 months is down to the hard work of all the football staff involved at the club. We have been working tirelessly to strengthen the squad going into a hugely competitive and important part of our season. Bringing five players in so far, we’ll continue to work on improving the squad ahead of the window closing.”

St Mirren book medical

St Mirren are closing in on the signing of Ghana Under-20 international Abdul Hakim Sulemana, with the club reported to have agreed a deal with Danish club Randers for the winger, and booked a medical. The 21-year-old began his career in Ghana's renowned Right to Dream Academy, before being snapped up by Ligue 1 giants Lyon in 2023, where he spent a year in the club’s academy system.

After his stint in France, Sulemana was snapped up by Danish Superliga outfit Rangers, where he gained valuable first-team exposure before being allowed to move to second-tier outfit Hillerod last summer, where he made 19 appearances and scored two goals. According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, he will undergo a medical at the SMiSA Stadium tomorrow ahead of completing a move to Paisley.

Hibs man targeted

Hibs full-back Chris Cadden is a transfer target for Aberdeen this month, with head coach Stephen Robinson looking to lure the two-cap Scotland international to Pittodrie as part of a major squad rebuild. The Dons boss has been extremely active in the transfer window already this summer, securing 11 new signings, but wants to add more before their season opener against Hearts, and reports claim he has expressed an interest in bringing the Hibs defender to the club.

Cadden, 29, has been a regular at Easter Road over the last five-and-a-half seasons after joining from MLS club Columbus Crew in January 2021, but is about to enter the final year of his contract with the club. Despite significant strengthening of his squad, Aberdeen boss Robinson is reported to have identified him as a key target, with the duo having worked together at Motherwell previously.

Meanwhile, former Hibs loanee Matt Doherty has completed a move to Sheffield United after ending his second spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this summer following their relegation to the EFL Championship. The 34-year-old defender has penned a one-year deal at Bramall Lane.

Rangers target more incomings

Rangers head coach Derek McInnes has confirmed the club are hoping of three new additions as they approach their Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee United next Friday. The Ibrox boss has been extremely active in the summer transfer window, adding Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie, Dan Neil, Cammy Devlin and Ivor Pandur to his squad already, but hopes to strengthen it further in the days to come.

The club are reported to be closing in on a deal for Partizan Belgrade midfielder Vanja Dragojevic, with the 20-year-old Serbian international thought to be in advanced discussions over a move to Rangers. Troyes defender Sankhoun Diawara and Philadelphia Union centre-back Olwethu Makhanya have also been strongly linked with the Glasgow giants.

Following his side’s 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Saint-Etienne, McInnes said: “I think the recruitment team have been really aggressive. It's clear for me we need a bit more in wider areas. We could do with another defender in the building. I know I said we'd try to get one or two done for tonight. I think we hit the post with one or two but we're still close. I certainly think there'll be at least two in for Sunday's game. Hopefully another one next week before Monday night.”

Celtic given striker update

Celtic have been warned that a deal for Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh may cost them “more than they want to pay” after the Scottish champions were said to have revived their interest in the Danish hitman. Earlier this week, it was claimed that Martin O’Neill’s men were ready to return to the negotiating table for the 25-year-old, who has scored 53 goals in 103 games at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Understood to have been valued at around £7million during the winter transfer window, reports from Norway now say that the price is likely to have been upped in recent months, with Radio Sporten claiming his club have little interest in selling their star striker for that fee, and that a larger fee would likely be required to convince Bodo/Glimt to cash in on a sale.

Left out of the starting XI for their 3-0 win over HamKam on Wednesday, head coach Kjetil Knutsen was quick to pour cold water on speculation that Hogh wasn’t involved due to an impending transfer, telling TV2: “The match today is a step in the right direction. The group has worked hard. We have had some who have not been here, because they have been involved in other fun things [World Cup, international games], but the group has done extremely well. The whole group is signing up, they need to be ready. We have to work a little and change our players.”