Danny Rohl is leaving Rangers. That much now seems settled — it's the compensation figure with RB Salzburg that's still being negotiated, and once that's agreed, Ibrox faces a managerial search with real implications for where next season's title race goes.
Hearts boss Derek McInnes is high on a four-man shortlist, according to multiple reports, and his profile makes sense. He knows Scottish football inside out, he's stabilised Hearts into a consistent top-six outfit, and he wouldn't need six months to understand what Rangers actually requires of a head coach. Edinburgh Evening News reports Hearts are already bracing for an approach.
Gerrard back in the frame?
The Daily Record throws Steven Gerrard's name into the mix alongside McInnes and former target Kevin Muscat. Gerrard returning to Ibrox would be the highest-profile move, but his record since leaving — a difficult spell at Aston Villa, then Saudi Arabia — means it's a romantic option more than a proven one right now. Rangers' title odds would shift sharply on his appointment either way, just not necessarily in the direction the support would hope.
Muscat is the wildcard. The Australian has done solid work in Europe and brings a different tactical profile from anyone else on the list.
Scotland assistant Steven Naismith also admitted he nearly joined Russell Martin's coaching staff at Rangers last summer, which adds context to how much reshaping the Ibrox backroom has gone through in a short space of time.
Engels attracting serious attention
Meanwhile at Celtic, Arne Engels is drawing a queue. Napoli are the headline name, but Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland have all already submitted formal inquiries for the 22-year-old midfielder. That's four clubs chasing a player who only arrived last summer — a sign of how quickly he's registered at the top level rather than just within Scottish football.
Celtic losing Engels would hurt their Champions League ambitions considerably. His ball progression and press resistance are exactly what separates the Scottish champions from teams operating two divisions below them in Europe.
The other transfer lines worth tracking
- Rangers are in talks with Besiktas over re-signing winger Vaclav Cerny, who impressed on loan from Wolfsburg.
- Rangers are accelerating a move for Westerlo right-back Bryan Reynolds, 24, with one year left on his Belgian contract.
- Celtic's loan left-back Marcelo Saracchi could return permanently at a cut price from Boca Juniors, but Turkey and MLS are circling with Celtic yet to open formal talks.
- Bournemouth's Julian Araujo, fresh off his Celtic loan, is on Mexican champions Cruz Azul's radar.
- Connor Ronan signs a two-year deal with Aberdeen after leaving Colorado Rapids.
- Aberdeen are weighing up goalkeeper Dave Richards after he turned down a new contract at Dundee United.
- Everton have agreed a fee with Dundee United for 16-year-old striker Kai Hutchison — Wolves also tabled an offer, but Everton got there. Dundee United had previously knocked back six-figure bids from Wolves and Norwich for the teenager.
The Hutchison deal is the one that stings for Dundee United. Twice they held firm on significant offers for a 16-year-old, only to lose him for what sounds like a negotiated-down fee after he rejected a professional contract. The talent was clearly real. The outcome wasn't what they needed.
