Celtic join defender chase, ex-Rangers hero's Ibrox link, Hearts submit offer - Scottish transfer news

Here are the top stories from around the Scottish Premiership and beyond, with reports from Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, and Dundee United.

Dundee United receive MLS interest

Dundee United are bracing themselves for further interest in key defender Will Ferry this month, with two MLS teams ready to do battle in their quest to sign the Irishman. Tannadice head coach Jim Goodwin rejected an offer from Vancouver Whitecaps for the 25-year-old in the summer, with the Tangerines immediately slapping a seven-figure valuation on the player.

However, the Canadian outfit are mulling over a second offer for the left-back ahead of the start of their 2026 season next month. However, they are now set to face competition for his signature from league rivals Real Salt Lake, with the Courier saying they are weighing up a move for the defender ahead of the MLS transfer window re-opening in two days.

With 18 months still to run on his current deal, the club has no pressure to sell Ferry. Still, they are preparing themselves for a flurry of offers this month, with clubs in the EFL Championship and Eredivisie also reportedly monitoring his situation.

Hearts submit offer

Hearts have made an official offer for talented French midfielder Laurent Mendy, with the Tynecastle club keen to add to their midfield options following an injury to Cammy Devlin. The Forest Green star has been a key player for the National League side and has been a virtual ever-present at Eco Park since he arrived from Macclesfield Town in the summer.

According to a report from the Hearts Standard, the fifth-tier side has rejected the club's initial offer for the player, but are mulling over a second bid for the Frenchman, who can also play at right-back or centre-back. Should a move for Mendy prove to be successful, he would become the club’s third arrival of the window following the signings of Islam Chesnokov and Jordi Altena earlier this month.

Aberdeen confirm arrival

Aberdeen have confirmed the loan signing of former Bayern Munich defender Liam Morrison on a deal until the end of the season. The 22-year-old joins from EFL Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers, having fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks, and bolsters a Dons defence that saw Alfie Dorrington recalled by his parent club Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the window.

The defender began his career with Celtic, where he starred in the Lennoxtown academy before being poached by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. He has also spent time on loan with Wigan Athletic in recent years before making a permanent move to Loftus Road in the summer of 2024.

“Being from Scotland, I know Aberdeen is a massive club with a great fanbase and high expectations,” said Morrison upon his arrival at Pittodrie. “I’m really looking forward to coming back home and playing in the Scottish environment again. I need to play games and try to impress, and this opportunity gives me the best chance to do that. Everyone has been great since I arrived and has made me feel very welcome. If we stick together, I’m confident we can end the season strongly. I can’t wait to get going.”

Thistle kid in demand

Meanwhile, Aberdeen are also said to be exploring a deal for Partick Thistle midfielder Ben Stanway. According to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old is a target for the Dons this month after scoring five goals and assisting a further two at Maryhill this season. The player is available on a pre-contract deal, with his contract expiring in the summer. However, the Pittodrie outfit are believed to be considering making a move to sign the player permanently this month. They will face competition for his signature though, with Dundee and Slask Wroclaw also believed to have made enquiries about Stanway.

The managerless side are also believed to be close to sealing a loan deal for former St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusanya. The 28-year-old left the SMiSA Stadium in the summer to sign for MLS outfit Houston Dynamo, but played just six times before being loaned out to Doncaster Rovers. With his loan deal now expired at the Eco-Power Stadium, the powerful forward is available for transfer again this month.

Celtic join defender chase

Celtic have joined the race to sign highly-rated young centre-back Jamie Lawrence from Austrian side WSG Tirol, according to a report from Italian transfer guru Rudy Galletti. The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and several teams are believed to be eyeing up a pre-contract offer for the player, who began his career with Bayern Munich and has been capped several times by Germany at the youth level. While the Räckelwitz-born defender is available on a pre-contract, WSG are said to be open to a January sale. Celtic will face competition from clubs in Spain, Turkey, Russia, and China.

Meanwhile, the club looks poised to agree a deal for Borussia Monchengladbach frontman Tomas Cvancara. The Czech international is reported to have reached an agreement with the Scottish champions that will see him arrive on loan for the remainder of the campaign, with an option to buy. Reports in France claim Martin O’Neill’s side have also made a loan-to-buy offer for Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba, while Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana has also been linked with a permanent move as Celtic look to strengthen their attacking options in January.

Ex-Rangers hero offered exit

Former Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo has been told he is free to leave Southampton after dropping down the pecking order at St Mary’s this season. The Nigerian international is out of contract in the summer, and has been tentatively linked with a potential return to Ibrox, having played just 111 minutes under Saints' new head coach, Tonda Eckert.

The 29-year-old playmaker was a popular figure during his three-season stint at Ibrox, winning the Scottish Premiership, Scottish League Cup, and Scottish Cup during his time with the club. However, he is best remembered for scoring the club’s opening goal in the Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of the 2021/22 campaign before making a £6million move to Southampton, where he has remained ever since.

Turkish top-flight sides Goztepe and Trabzonspor are both thought to be keen on a deal for Aribo, and Southampton boss Eckert has now seemingly confirmed he is available for transfer, after responding to questions around his absence from the squad in recent weeks. “In general, I was very happy with the players we had available for matchdays, and that's where the situation is at the moment. The transfer window goes for another two weeks. Then we see what happens and, in general, I think the squad needs to become a bit lighter."

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