Jimmy Thelin adamant Celtic + Rangers stranglehold can be broken as key Ibrox star faces crunch talks over future
Latest news and transfer headlines surrounding Celtic and Rangers on Monday morning
On a weekend which saw Celtic and Rangers make inroads on Premiership leaders Hearts at the summit, both clubs will now turn their attention onto European action this midweek.
The Hoops left it late to edge past St Mirren 1-0 in Paisley thanks to Callum McGregor’s wonder-strike a few hours after Rangers limped to a 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Livingston at Ibrox, where Mohamed Diomande grabbed a later winner.
Here’s a round-up of the latest news headlines surrounding both clubs:
Aberdeen boss confident Old Firm stranglehold can be broken this season
Jimmy Thelin reckons Celtic and Rangers’ Premiership dominance can be ended this season after his side took down league pacesetters Hearts 1-0 at Pittodrie on Sunday.
It has been 40 years since the Dons became the last team outside of Glasgow’s ‘big two’ were last crowned Scottish champions.
And Scandanavian boss Thelin points to the fact that minnows Mjallby defied the odds to win the Swedish Allsvenskan this term and Leicester City also did something similar by winning the Premier League back in 2016.
Thelin - who ousted Celtic to help Aberdeen lift the Scottish Cup last season, stated: “Yes, it’s been a long time, but things can always happen in football. You have, of course, Mjallby this year in Sweden. You have Leicester some years ago in the Premier League.
“I also think that football evolves and the clubs evolve. You have to have the belief that it can happen. It’s difficult, but it can happen. You have to have these visions and dreams and ambitions.
“Otherwise, there’s no way of growing. The drive and ambition has to come from something. It’s challenging, yes, but it’s possible.”
James Tavernier to make Rangers next step decision over his future
Captain James Tavernier is set to hold talks over his Rangers future ahead of the January transfer window and will reportedly make a decision amid growing interest.
The Light Blues stalwart could have left Ibrox in the summer as speculation linking him with moves to Turkey or Saudi Arabia intensified, but he opted to remain in Glasgow.
However, Football Insider claim Tavernier is now weighing up his long-term future with potential new challenges on the horizon should he let his contract run down.
Currently, Tavernier could quit Rangers for free in the summer of 2026 after his testimonial and he is likely to have plenty of suitors from across Europe. It remains possible the right-back could decide to extend his deal with a view to finishing his career at Rangers given he’s 34.
It was revealed earlier this year that Rangers were open to offers for their skipper in a desperate bid to raise funds as he entered the final year of his contract. But while that is unlikely to be the case in January given his importance to Danny Rohl’s side, there remains a strong possibility that he could head for pastures new at the end of the season.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke explained: “He still has a lot to offer for Rangers, as you said, still club captain at Ibrox as well. He’s not getting any younger, there’s no getting away from that, but it seems every transfer window we have talked, maybe Tavernier could move on, but he always remains at Rangers.
“I’m sure there’ll be clubs who’ll be looking at Tavernier’s contract situation hoping that they could prize him away. A lot will depend on Tavernier and what he wants to do. Does he see himself staying at Rangers for the rest of his career or does he fancy a new challenge elsewhere?
“I think it’ll be the player who will go a long way to deciding his own future plans. I’m sure Rangers would like to keep him and talks will be held over extending that association with the Rangers but again I’m sure the players will have options elsewhere as well.”