Celtic face major interest, Rangers starlet monitored, McTominay ‘on clubs' radar’ - Scottish transfer news

In your Tuesday morning transfer bulletin, we’ve got the latest transfer reports from Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell, the Scotland national team and beyond:

Motherwell favourite in ‘advanced talks’

Swansea City are in advanced talks over a move to sign Celtic defender Stephen Welsh, with the EFL Championship keen on the centre-back after his impressive stint on loan at Motherwell last season. The 26‑year‑old was a star performer at Fir Park last season, playing 27 times as the Steelman secured an impressive fourth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership under former head coach Jens Berthel Askou.

However, it looks like Motherwell will miss out on a deal that would see Welsh return for a second spell, with negotiations nearing completion with the Swans. Understood to be a long-term target for head coach Vitor Matos, the second-tier outfit wants to offer Welsh a two-year deal, and looks to have beaten off interest from several other EFL Championship clubs, as well as sides in Europe and the MLS.

Welsh’s contract is set to end next month, and several reports claim he will sign a pre-contract deal at the Swansea.com Stadium, with the move set to come into effect on July 1.

Hibs exit talked down

Hibs head coach David Gray has indicated that record signing Thibault Klidje could still have a future at Easter Road, despite allowing him to depart the club on loan just six months after his arrival in January. The Togolese international moved to the capital for a reported fee of around £1million from Swiss outfit Luzern last summer, but struggled to impress, scoring just four goals from his 27 appearances.

Klidje was subsequently allowed to join Randers in the winter transfer window, with the club agreeing to a deal that would allow them to sign him permanently for a fee of around £1.5million. However, after scoring just once at the Randers Stadium, the Danish Superliga side has opted against a permanent deal, and Gray has addressed his future in an exclusive interview with the Edinburgh Evening News.

“The idea behind the loan wasn't an exit loan,” he said. “Not by any shape or form. It was definitely an opportunity to go and maximise his game time, and try to get as many minutes as we could. It just didn’t work out like that for him. He's not played the minutes he would want, a lot of sub appearances, but all he can do is keep working hard and keep waiting for opportunities.

“We're always across the game to see how many minutes he's played. Ideally, you want him to start every single game, the same as when we take players on loan, the parent clubs want him to play all the time. It doesn't always work like that, but he just had to keep going and just hope for opportunities.”

McTominay move ‘on the radar’

Scott McTominay will be ‘on the radar’ of several top clubs this summer, and has the perfect opportunity to put himself in the shop window at the World Cup, according to former Scotland striker Kris Boyd. The talismanic midfielder has been a revelation at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium since his arrival two seasons ago, winning the Serie A in his debut season at the club, alongside a host of personal accolades. However, with Napoli parting ways with head coach Antonio Conte last month, a potential exit could be on the cards, and Boyd admits there’ll be plenty of interest in the former Manchester United man as clubs consider an attempt to lure him away from the Italian giants.

“Scott McTominay is bound to attract some eyes from big clubs after the World Cup,” said Boyd. “He strikes me as someone who would welcome a return to the British Isles. There’s no doubt he’ll have options, not only because of his contributions to the Scottish national team, but also thanks to his consistent performances for Napoli.

“The World Cup and the European Championships used to provide the best opportunities for players to showcase themselves on the biggest stage. I still believe that to be the case, but thanks to advances in data analytics and how closely players are monitored, there will be clubs who already have a shortlist of players they’ll be keeping a close eye on in North America over the next few weeks, and McTominay is someone who could be on a lot of top clubs’ radar’s.”

Boyd will be appearing in Aberdeen on 10th June alongside Gordon Strachan as part Grosvenor Casino's Scotland World Cup Preview Night. Tickets are currently on offer for a limited time and available to purchase here.

Rangers starlet monitored

Rangers youngster Bailey Rice is being monitored by numerous clubs on the continent, with his contract set to expire at Ibrox next month. The 19-year-old played just one last season due to a muscle issue and has been linked with a move away from the club for several months, with West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City said to be tracking the starlet back in December.

The Scotland youth international made his Rangers debut back in February 2023, becoming the youngest post-war player to represent the club when he was introduced as an 88th-minute substitute in a match against Livingston at the age of just 16 years and 137 days old, and agreed a contract until the summer of 2026 at Ibrox shortly afterwards before making his first start for the club in a 0-0 Europa League first leg quarter-final draw with Atletico Bilbao two years later.

According to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, the teenager has interest from recently relegated West Ham United, while Ajax, Schalke and Zulte Waregem, who appointed former Rangers boss Michael Beale last month, are also targeting a move. While Rangers would be due a compensation fee whichever club he moves to, it is likely to be a minimal cross-border fee for clubs outside of Scotland.

Celtic face fresh interest

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is at the centre of a major summer transfer tussle with several English Premier League teams circling for his signature this summer. The Belgian international was the subject of a rejected £25million bid from Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, while AC Milan and Lazio have also been credited with an interest in the last week.

The Midlands club are believed to still hold an interest in him, but are set to face serious competition from top-flight rivals Sunderland and Fulham. Engels ended the season in excellent form for Celtic, scoring in the 3-1 win over Hearts that secured a fifth successive title on the final day, while he also notched the crucial second goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline Athletic.

However, the midfielder could have played his final game in Celtic colours, with Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas claiming that 22-year-old is ‘firmly’ on the radar of the English trio, with Forest keen to strike in a deal in the wake of Manchester City's ongoing pursuit of Elliot Anderson. Contracted until the summer of 2028, the Scottish champions are said to be looking for a fee of around £25million.

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