Major Hearts deal, Rangers target 'high-profile' star, EPL club nicks striker back - Scottish transfer news

Hearts complete Chesnokov deal

Hearts have completed the signing of Kazakhstan internationalist Islam Chesnokov. The winger has penned a deal until the summer of 2028 with the current Premiership leaders.

Chesnokov, 26, has been capped 22 times by his country and has scored three goals. He was a free agent after his contract with FC Tobol expired two months ago.

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes said of the signing: “I’m really pleased that Islam is here, he’s a Hearts player and he’s raring to get started.

“Our desire to bring Islam in has been well documented and sometimes these things take a bit of time, but the dialogue between myself, the club and Islam has always been there. There was never any panic and everyone involved deserves a lot of credit for making it happen.

Rangers target Swedish midfielder

BK Hacken’s Silas Andersen is the latest midfielder to be linked with Rangers. It is claimed that 21-year-old has been the subject of “enquiries” from Ibrox recruitment chiefs in the past few days.

Rangers are in the market for a new central midfielder and have also been linked with Pierre Ekwah, who is currently involved in a legal dispute with Saint-Etienne. They are expected to let Joe Rothwell and Lyall Cameron leave this month and head coach Danny Rohl wants more competition in the No 6 and No 8 roles.

A Denmark Under-21 internationalist, Andersen was subject of interest from Nottingham Forest and FC Copenhagen last year.

However, his Swedish club will not let him leave on the cheap. "He is a very important and high-profile player for us,” said sporting director Martin Ericsson,” so of course something special is needed."

Celtic ‘closing in on winger’

Celtic are closing in on the signing of Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, with reports from French media claiming that a medical is taking place in Israel.

Ta Bi, 20, currently plays for Hapoel Petah Tikva and is expected to cost in the region of £3 million. He would become Celtic’s second signing of this window after the arrival of right-back Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth.

New Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has stated he wants new faces in the door. “I think we're all aware that the squad needs strengthening if we can do,” he said.

“If we can get a few people in, I think the squad will benefit.”

Campbell in St Mirren’s sights

Free agent Allan Campbell has emerged as a transfer target for St Mirren. The 27-year-old has been without a club since leaving Dundee United last summer and could make a move to Paisley.

St Mirren are short on midfield options after injuries to Mark O’Hara and Keanu Baccus. They were due to play on Tuesday evening, only for their match against Livingston to be postponed due to inclement weather conditions.

Manager Stephen Robinson knows Campbell from their time together at Motherwell and could bolster his squad before Saturday’s match against Falkirk.

Arfield could make Livi switch

Experienced midfielder Scott Arfield is being linked with a move to Livingston just days after he was released from his contract by Falkirk.

Former Rangers man Arfield, 37, left Falkirk last week after struggling to break into John McGlynn’s starting XI. It brought the curtain down on his second spell with the Bairns after the Canada internationalist helped them win promotion back to the Premiership.

It is being reported that Arfield has emerged as a target for the league’s bottom club Livingston. The Lions are keen to strengthen their squad this transfer window as they bid to avoid the drop.

Sunderland recall Falkirk man

Falkirk loanee Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi has returned to parent club Sunderland, the Premiership club have confirmed.

The 19-year-old striker arrived at Falkirk in August and made nine appearances for the club, who sit sixth in the table after 20 league games.

A statement on the official Falkirk X account read: “Falkirk can confirm that Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi has returned to his parent club, Sunderland.

The loanee featured nine times for the Bairns in what has been a successful return to the Premiership. We would like to thank Trey for his efforts while with us, and wish him all the best for the future.”