Rangers priorities revealed, Celtic resigned to multiple exits, Hearts revive interest - SPFL transfers

The Premier Sports Cup group stages are already underway, while it is now just under three weeks until the big Scottish Premiership kick-off with last season’s title rivals among the busiest clubs in the transfer market.

Here are the latest transfer updates from Celtic, Rangers and Hearts...

Rangers priorites revealed

Rangers have signed six players so far this summer and are prioritising three more areas to strengthen, according to a report.

Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil, Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie and goalkeeper Ivor Pandur have all arrived while Jack Butland, James Tavernier and Ben Davies have all departed.

Now the Rangers Review claim that manager Derek McInnes is looking to recruit a right-sided winger and a left-sided centre-back, with another midfielder also targeted amid mooted exits for Nico Raskin and Connor Barron.

With 28 first-team players currently on the books - including an overload of 10 central midfielders - McInnes will look to trim his squad before making further additions. Reports indicate that Scotland defender John Souttar could be offloaded this summer, along with Brazilian striker Danilo.

Despite already signing two midfielders, Rangers are still actively monitoring long-term targets like Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic and Tromso’s Jens Hjerto-Dahl.

Meanwhile, Rangers continued their preparations for the new season with a 1-1 friendly draw against South African side Kaizer Chiefs in Marbella on Sunday.

After a scoreless first half, Kaizer Chiefs youngster Asanele Velebayi broke the deadlock in the 77th minute. Rangers came close to an equaliser with Nedim Bajrami hitting the post, before substitute Findlay Curtis rescued a draw in the 89th minute with a spectacular dipping cross-cum-shot over the goalkeeper. Shankland also made his first appearance for Rangers off the bench.

Celtic resigned to multiple exits

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been addressing the prospect of losing three of his top stars this summer.

Daizen Meada has already indicated a strong desire to pursue a move a bigger league after some impressive displays at the World Cup for Japan, which included a goal against Sweden.

The 28-year-old nearly moved to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg last summer for £20 million. Celtic blocked that move because they could not secure a replacement in time. This year, the club will not stand in his way.

O'Neill told reporters at the club's pre-season training base in Portugal: "I think there’s some resignation in that aspect. It isn’t one of those where he’s got a year left to run and we want to try and make something of it in the sense of getting money.

“I'd love him to stay. I'm not sure that that's going to happen."

O'Neill also seems resigned to the prospect of losing Arne Engles after the Belgian midfielder was the subject of a failed £20million bid from Nottingham Forest in the January window.

"If those bids that Nottingham Forest made come in on the 11th hour that was just a non-goer for us at that particular stage,” he said. "So if some things can happen a bit earlier, then maybe there's some resignation on my part.”

Another key player from last season's double-winning squad who could depart Celtic is Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren. "His [Nygren] stats are very, very high, absolutely. So there's every possibility that something could happen there,” O'Neill confessed.

O’Neill even refused to give assurances of the future of captain Callum McGregor who has changed agents amid links with former boss Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia. “He hasn't hinted to me he wants to leave at this minute, that would be a bad blow. But sometimes money is a big thing, particularly when you're past 30. If something comes in that is just mind-boggling for him, that becomes a different issue.”

Hearts revive interest

Hearts have reportedly rekindled their interest in Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy following the departure of Cammy Devlin to Rnagers.

The Tynecastle side originally tried to buy the 29-year-old Frenchman during the January transfer window but the National League side rejected that initial bid. Hearts have now returned to the table after Devlin rejected a contract extension to sign with Rangers.

Mendy, 29, has received glowing references for his performances at New Lawn. However, Forest Green manager Robbie Savage has stated that the midfielder is not for sale and that no bid has been accepted. "I think our stance is pretty clear: Not for sale," the former Wales international said.