Rangers lodge new bid, Celtic demands, Kiwi winger to jet in, Hibs raid EPL - Scottish transfer news

Rangers make ‘final’ Naderi bid

Rangers have tabled another offer to Hansa Rostock in their bid to sign German striker Ryan Naderi. The 22-year-old emerged a key Ibrox target earlier this week and the club have already seen two bids rejected.

Hansa Rostock want to keep Naderi until the end of the season as they mount a promotion charge in 3. Liga. German media outlets are reporting that Rangers’ “final’ bid of £3 million would include a loan-back agreement to Rostock.

Speaking earlier in the week, Hansa Rostock manager Daniel Brinkmann said: "It's a difficult situation for us. And for the lad too, it's not easy being the talk of the town every day.”

Rangers have also been linked with loan moves for Southampton striker Cameron Archer and Leeds United forward Joel Piroe. The Ibrox side want another No 9 before the transfer window closes on Monday evening.

Rangers kid joins Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock have made their third signing of the January window with Findlay Curtis joining on loan from Rangers. The Rugby Park side confirmed on Friday evening that the 19-year-old midfielder would be joining for the remainder of the season.

Earlier, Moldova winger Nicky Clescenco joined from Zimbru Chisinau on a contract until the summer of 2027. The Dublin-born 24-year-old, who has seven caps for Moldova, previously played in Portugal and Switzerland.

Clescenco follows former Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos in joining beleaguered Killie, who are 11th in the William Hill Premiership after a run of 16 league matches without victory since October 4.

Neil McCann’s side are bidding to bounce back from being thrashed 4-0 at Motherwell last weekend, when Tom Lowery was sent off, with the midfielder suspended for Saturday’s visit from Aberdeen.

Celtic want three new signings

Celtic want to sign three players before the transfer window closes, according to assistant coach Shaun Maloney.

Czech Republic striker Tomas Cvancara has been recruited on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach while Mexico right-back Julian Araujo has arrived from Bournemouth, also temporarily. But the Premiership champions are in the market for further additions and have been linked with Dunajska Streda winger Damir Redzic, Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis and Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh.

“I think if we bring in another two or three, it would be a massive, massive help, but they have to be the right ones,” said Maloney. “There is no need to bring in numbers. It has to be the right type of player for what we need and what probably the team’s lacking.

“The two that we brought in, I really like, but hopefully we can do two or three more. The work’s been done. In fairness to the board, they’re there and ready to try and get the deals done and hopefully that happens. It won’t be through a lack of effort.”

Polvara leaves Aberdeen

Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup hero Dante Polvara will leave Pittodrie to return home after a fee was agreed with MLS side St Louis City.

The 25-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at New York City FC, joined the Dons in January 2022 and after making his debut just two months later, he went on to make 93 appearances, scoring six goals. However, the American wrote himself into Pittodrie lore at Hampden Park last May in the Scottish Cup final, when he came off the bench and converted his penalty in the 4–3 shootout victory over Celtic, the Reds taking the trophy back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years.

Polvara’s contract was up in the summer and he has elected to return to the United States. He said: “I had a good offer to remain at the club, as well as an offer from another Scottish Premiership side, but if I was ever going to stay in Scotland, it would only ever be at Aberdeen. My connection with the club and the fans is simply too strong for me to break that bond.

“My girlfriend and I were keen to return home and be closer to our families again and this was a brilliant opportunity for me that I just couldn’t turn down.”

Striker changes at Hibs

Hibs have signed Tottenham forward Dane Scarlett on loan for the remainder of the season, with Kieron Bowie’s move to Hellas Verona also confirmed on Friday evening.

Scarlett, 21, moves to Easter Road just days after coming off the bench in Spurs’ Champions League victory away to Eintracht Frankfurt. He became the Premier League club’s youngest-ever player in 2020 and has since accumulated 27 first-team appearances for the Lilywhites while also spending time on loan at Portsmouth, Ipswich and Oxford.

The arrival of the forward at Hibs goes some way to softening the blow of losing top scorer Bowie, who moved to Verona on Friday night in a deal that could land the Easter Road side up to £7m.

“Dane is a player with real talent, fantastic attributes and he will provide a genuine goal threat in the forward areas of the pitch with his pace, athleticism and technique,” said Hibs head coach David Gray.

United swoop for Kiwi

Dundee United have confirmed that Auckland FC winger Jesse Randall has agreed a pre-contract deal with the Tannadice side.

Randall has penned a two-year deal and will arrive this summer after the current A-League season.

The 23-year-old has been capped four times by New Zealand and is bidding to be part of their World Cup squad this summer in the Americas.

Dundee United have made two winter signings so far, bringing in goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer and winger Neil Farrugia.