Celtic medical scheduled, Rangers exit edges closer, Hearts to pay record fee - Scottish transfer news
The latest Scottish transfer news on Friday morning - including reports from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and beyond.
The Scottish Premiership is now just one week away from returning, and the completed deals, transfer rumours and reports are gaining speed up as managers race against the clock to add to their squad ahead of opening day.
In your Friday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest news from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts 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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Dundee United forced to wait
Dundee United are still waiting for the MLS to sanction the loan signing of talented young full-back Philippe Ndinga, despite agreeing a deal with Philadelphia Union earlier this week. Head coach Jim Goodwin is looking to add the defender to his ranks this summer, and has already agreed terms with the DR Congo Under-21 international. However, the Tannadice outfit are still awaiting for league officials to green light the switch.
Ndinga, who began his career in the youth ranks in French football with USL Dunkerque and Valenciennes, earned a move to the United States after a successful spell with Swedish outfit Degerfors IF, moving to the Union last February for a fee of £1.7million. However, with first-team football at a premium, the club are happy to sanction a loan move, but with just one week to go until their league campaign gets underway against Rangers, the clock is ticking.
Hearts to pay record fee
Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage has revealed that his club will bank a record fee should Hearts complete a deal for Laurent Mendy. A target for the club in January, the midfielder is closing in on a move to Tynecastle after the Jambos returned to the negotiating table in the summer. According to reports, the fee that will take Mendy to the capital will be around £500,000.
However, according to Rovers boss Savage, add-ons included in the deal could take the fee nearer to seven figures, which would represent a club record sale for the New Lawn outfit. “A deal has been agreed, it’s not finalised yet,” said Savage. “I can say the fee which we’ve agreed will be a club record. If all targets are met it’s close to seven figures which for this football club is quite remarkable. I’ll speak about it again when everything is signed and finalised but it’s an opportunity for Laurent, an opportunity to change his life.
“If you want to be here and you want to perform, and play well, look at what can happen. We are an ambitious club ourselves but when a player has an opportunity like the one Mendy has, how can you stand in his way? It’s unbelievable for the club, and unbelievable for the boy.”
Rangers exit edges closer
Rangers forgotten frontman Danilo is edging closer to a departure from the club, with the Brazilian striker expected to return to his homeland this summer with Botafogo, where he is expected to sign a season-long loan deal. The 27-year-old was spotted arriving in South America last night, with the move understood to be close to completion.
Left out of the club’s pre-season training camp in Spain last week, clubs in the Eredivisie and the Greek Super League had shown interest in signing the forward, who is well down the pecking order at Rangers following the signings of Lawrence Shankland and Ryan Naderi in recent months.
Danilo spent the second half of last season on loan to NEC Nijmegen. Still, he struggled to impress, finding the net just once in his 12 appearances at Goffertstadion before returning to Ibrox at the end of the campaign. However, viewed as surplus to requirements, he will be allowed to leave, with new head coach Derek McInnes happy to sanction his departure from Ibrox.
Celtic medical scheduled
Celtic are set to bank a fee of around £8million for star man Daizen Maeda, with the Japanese international scheduled to undergo a medical at newly promoted Ipswich Town later today. According to several reports, the 28-year-old arrived in East Anglia yesterday to complete a major move to the Portman Road outfit, and he will finalise the paperwork on his contract upon the successful completion of a medical.
Keen to leave Celtic this summer after spending four-and-a-half trophy-laden years in Glasgow, the Japan international played a vital role in Martin O’Neill’s men retained their Premiership crown last season, but had made no secret of his desire to move on to a fresh challenge following his country’s exit from the World Cup this summer It is understood the deal could reach a total of £10million, with Celtic set to receive an extra £2million in add-ons.
Meanwhile, the expected departure of Maeda is likely to see Celtic ramp up a move for Bodo/Glimt marksman Kasper Hogh. The Danish international is understood to be valued at around £8million, and the club want to bring the free-scoring forward to Celtic Park this summer if a deal can be agreed. Celtic also remain locked in discussions over a deal for midfielder Mika Baur. Reports claim the Paderborn youngster has already agreed personal terms, but the German club are standing firm over their valuation of the player.
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