Rangers are closing in on bringing Ross McCrorie back to Ibrox, with the 28-year-old Bristol City defender reportedly set to return to the club that developed him. A Scotland international who can operate across the backline, McCrorie offers depth and versatility — exactly what Philippe Clement's squad needs heading into a season where the margin for error against Celtic is zero.
Celtic's Smajlovic pursuit heats up — but so does the competition
Meanwhile, Celtic have raised their bid for Sandefjord centre-back Zinedin Smajlovic to £3.9m plus £1.7m in bonuses. The problem? They're not alone. Rangers, Olympiacos, Hull City, Fenerbahçe, Toulouse, Feyenoord, and Lyon are all circling the 22-year-old. Sandefjord, sitting comfortably with no financial gun to their head, can afford to let the auction run.
That's a telling list of clubs. When Feyenoord and Lyon are in the room, Celtic's financial pull isn't necessarily the decisive factor. Brendan Rodgers will need more than a bumped offer to land this one. If they miss out, their defensive recruitment takes a hit — and so does the confidence behind their title odds.
Rangers are also reportedly preparing a formal bid for Dundee centre-back Luke Graham in the coming weeks, though Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been careful to note that while there have been "plenty of phone calls," nothing firm has landed on his desk yet. Graham is 22, composed on the ball, and has earned his reputation. He won't come cheap, and Dundee have no reason to rush.
Hearts reshaping on and off the pitch
Hearts are arguably the busiest club in Scotland right now. Belgian second-tier forward Sabri Guendouz has travelled to Edinburgh for a medical, finalising a six-figure move from Beerschot. Wouter Vrancken — former Sint-Truiden boss — arrives Wednesday to be confirmed as the club's new head coach, and he's reportedly looking to bring Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners with him as assistants.
On the outgoing side, Alexandros Kyziridis has serious admirers back in Greece. Olympiacos, PAOK, AEK Athens, and Panathinaikos all want the 25-year-old winger, with Hearts holding out for between £2.6m and £3.4m. That's real money for a Premiership club. If they land somewhere near the top of that range and reinvest it under a new coaching setup, Hearts could enter next season genuinely reconfigured.
- Hibernian have told clubs they will not sell Miguel Chaiwa this summer, despite consistent links to Celtic and English sides
- Celtic missed out on striker Elias Filet — he joined La Louviere from Aarau after the club failed to follow up a video call with his representatives quickly enough
- Go Ahead Eagles have confirmed Celtic made no contact over Jakob Breum, contradicting persistent transfer rumours around the 22-year-old Danish attacker
- Lewis O'Donnell, 21, has been offered a contract by USL club Monterey Bay after leaving Dundee United
Hibernian's stance on Chaiwa is worth watching. Holding firm on a 22-year-old Zambia international with Celtic and English clubs knocking is a statement of ambition. Whether they can actually keep him past the deadline is a different question.
Celtic's recruitment has had a patchy window so far — the Filet miss is the kind of low-profile slip that adds up. A slow follow-up on a video call, and the striker signs elsewhere before pre-season even starts. Small margins, real consequences.
