Rangers are on the verge of re-signing Ross McCrorie from Bristol City, with the 28-year-old Scotland international set to return to Ibrox. A versatile defender who came through the club's academy, McCrorie would arrive as cover and competition across the backline — a low-risk, high-familiarity move that suits a club still working out what it actually needs this summer.
Celtic's Smajlovic bid met with a shrug from Sandefjord
Celtic have gone back in with an improved offer for Zinedin Smajlovic — £3.9m plus £1.7m in bonuses — and Sandefjord still aren't biting. That's the problem when you're trying to buy a 22-year-old centre-back that Rangers, Olympiacos, Hull City, Fenerbahçe, Toulouse, Feyenoord and Lyon are all chasing. Sandefjord have no financial gun to their head, and Celtic are learning that being Scottish champions doesn't automatically get you to the front of that queue.
If Smajlovic ends up at Feyenoord or Lyon, Celtic's defensive recruitment story this summer starts to look thin. Their clean sheet odds in the Champions League qualifiers may already be worth a harder look.
On the subject of defenders, Rangers are also preparing a formal bid for Dundee's Luke Graham — though Dundee head coach Steven Pressley says the phone has been busy but no firm offer has actually landed yet. Rangers are apparently doing the same dance with multiple centre-backs at once, which either signals smart hedging or a lack of clear priority. Probably both.
Hearts are having a full summer of it
Hearts are pulling in multiple directions right now. Wouter Vrancken is due in Edinburgh on Wednesday to finalise his appointment as head coach, reportedly planning to bring Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners with him as assistants. The former Sint-Truiden boss arrives with a clear tactical identity — that at least gives the club some shape as the window accelerates.
Meanwhile, Sabri Guendouz — a 26-year-old forward from Belgian second-tier side Beerschot — is already in Edinburgh undergoing a medical ahead of a six-figure move to Tynecastle. And Hearts are asking between £2.6m and £3.4m for winger Alexandros Kyziridis, with Olympiacos, PAOK, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos all interested in bringing him back to Greece. That asking price is firm enough to suggest Hearts aren't desperate to sell — but Greek clubs in the market for a 25-year-old they already know tend to be persistent.
Elsewhere, Hibernian have drawn a line in the sand over Miguel Chaiwa, telling interested clubs the 22-year-old Zambia midfielder is not for sale this summer despite Celtic and a string of English clubs sniffing around. Hibs holding firm on that one is a statement in itself.
- Rangers closing in on Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie, 28
- Celtic's improved £3.9m (+£1.7m bonuses) bid for Smajlovic rejected by Sandefjord
- Rangers also targeting Dundee centre-back Luke Graham, no formal offer yet
- Hearts set to confirm Wouter Vrancken as new head coach on Wednesday
- Hearts forward target Sabri Guendouz in Edinburgh for medical
- Kyziridis attracting interest from four Greek clubs, Hearts want £2.6m–£3.4m
- Hibernian insist Miguel Chaiwa is not available despite widespread interest
- Go Ahead Eagles confirm Celtic have made no contact over Jakob Breum
Celtic also missed out on striker Elias Filet, who joined La Louviere after the Scottish champions failed to follow up a video call with his representatives quickly enough. Go Ahead Eagles' general manager has confirmed there's been zero contact from Celtic over Danish attacker Jakob Breum either, despite the rumours. A pattern of near-misses in the final third isn't ideal heading into a summer where they need to add goals, not almost-sign them.
