​Rangers are being linked with midfielders from Norway and Serbia amid ongoing transfer talk, while questions linger about whether former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafael Benítez would be interested in taking the Scotland job. Benítez has not ruled out international management, telling TalkSport that he remains open to opportunities in international football. The pursuit of midfield talent continues as Rangers are reportedly exploring options and weighing potential deals.
In attackers, Lyon are pushing ahead with a substantial bid for 22-year-old Youssef Chermiti, understood to be worth around £17.1 million when add-ons are included. Rangers, however, are said to be sticking to a valuation closer to £25 million, signalling a tense negotiation with the French club. Separately, Lyon’s initial approach for Chermiti has circulated as £12 million with £3.4 million in add-ons, but Rangers have no intention of letting the striker leave this summer.
Rangers’ activity also extends to the midfield, with a reported £5.3 million offer for 20-year-old Jens Hjerto-Dahl rejected by Tromsø, according to iTromsø. Talks continue as Rangers eye Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojević, a 20-year-old defensive midfielder whose contract runs until 2030, suggesting a long-term project in the heart of the park.
Celtic are moving decisively in the market as well, having agreed a £5.5 million deal to secure Qarabağ striker Camilo Duran as their first summer signing, with the 24-year-old on the verge of finalising the transfer to Glasgow. Concurrently, reports from Anthony Joseph on X claim Celtic are close to completing a deal for Duran, with an initial £3 million rising to as much as £6 million.
Looking at yesterday’s transfer rumours across England and Europe, several clubs have been active among Premier League and Scottish football circles. Scottish gossip from Tuesday points to renewed speculation about who each Premiership club has brought in and let go during the close-season window. The chatter on Wednesday highlighted Colombian striker Camilo Duran’s expected arrival in Glasgow for a four-year contract with Celtic, a development that would bolster the Hoops’ forward line. There were also notes about potential lineup changes for the old firm derby, with Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun possibly missing the first Glasgow Derby of the season after being named in South Korea’s Asian Games squad.
In other transfer developments, Notts County are on the brink of signing Dundee striker Emile Acquah after the clubs reportedly reached a principle agreement. Queens Park Rangers have expressed interest in 30-year-old Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior, pointing to potential springtime moves in goal. Greenock Morton have given a trial to 21-year-old France Under-20 midfielder Noah Lahmadi following his release from Toulouse, hoping to evaluate him for a potential breakthrough. At the international front, Scotland-capped midfielder Barry Bannan has left Millwall and is set to return to Sheffield Wednesday, a move that could influence midseason options in the Championship.
There are also headline developments in youth and academy circles: Liverpool have completed a deal to sign Scotland Under-16 captain Dara Jikiemi from Celtic on a five-year contract, a move highlighted by Fabrizio Romano on X as part of Liverpool’s growing investment in young talent. On the international stage, Hibernian forward Martin Boyle disclosed that he sought counselling support after being omitted from Australia’s World Cup squad, describing the experience as an emotional rollercoaster that took a toll on his mental health.
This flurry of activity signals a busy period for Scottish clubs and their recruitment teams, with a mix of domestic and international targets on the radar. As Rangers and Celtic push to strengthen key areas—midfield for Rangers and the forward line for Celtic—the possibility of a marquee appointment in the Scotland head coach role remains a talking point, with Benítez’s openness to international football adding an extra layer to the speculation.