Scottish transfer deadline day LIVE: All the latest Celtic and Rangers news and rumours

Uncertainty continues to surround the future of Rangers winger Ryan Kent as he enters the final 12 months of his current deal at Ibrox.

The former Liverpool ace is an important part of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side and the club are desperate to tie him down on a new deal.

However, Premier League side Leeds United have been long-term admirers of Kent and after having two previous bids to sign the player turned down, the Elland Road club are reportedly considering a fresh approach.

Jesse Marsch’s side had a £10million offer rejected in May 2021, with Kent determined to remain in Glasgow and prevent rivals Celtic in their pursuit for ten-in-a-row.

However, former Gers boss Steven Gerrard state the decision to sell Kent could be taken out of his hands if an increased bid was submitted.

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are set to revive their interest today with an offer in the region of £15million.

If Rangers can’t agree a contract extension with Kent, it leaves the club in a difficult position as he could depart for free next summer.

Rangers youngster Stephen Kelly could seal a permanent exit from Ibrox today with Premiership rivals Livingston eyeing a move for the midfielder.

The 22-year-old has struggled to establish himself in the first-team under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and has accepted his future lies away from the club.

Kelly made 21 appearances on loan at English League Two side Salford City during the second half of last season after impressive stints at Ayr United and Ross County.

The Scotland under-21 international returned to Rangers for pre-season earlier this summer but with no immediate route to the first-team, it seems likely he will head through the exit door in search of regular game time.

The Daily Record claim Livingston are among a host of potential suitors interested in Kelly as he enters the final year of his contract at Ibrox.

Should the right offer be received, the Light Blues will not stand in the player’s way as he seeks competitive action elsewhere.

Hajduk Split are reportedly willing to allow defensive midfielder Jani Atanasov to leave for Celtic.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to Parkhead in recent weeks with Croatian media outlet Slodobna Dalmacija claiming the Scottish champions interest was ‘genuine’.

Atanasov has made seven appearances for Hajduk so far this season in domestic competition and Europa Conference League qualifiers.

However, Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou is believed to have already identified ‘other solutions’, ensuring a move for Atanasov seems unlikely.

Rangers have confirmed the permanent departure of centre-back Nikola Katic to FC Zurich for an undisclosed fee.

The Croatian defender has joined the Swiss champions on a three-year-deal and will play in the Europa League group stages for his new club against Premier League side Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven and FK Bodo/Glimt.

The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in the Gers team under former manager Steven Gerrard before rupturing his cruciate ligament in July 2020, which ruled him out for almost a year.

Katic subsequently struggled to regain his place in the starting XI and was loaned out to Hajduk Split in his homeland last season before returning to Ibrox earlier this summer for pre-season.

Current boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was keen to cast his eye over the player but he had been left out of the matchday squad during the opening weeks of the campaign and will now head to Switzerland.

Katic leaves the club having scored six goals in 59 appearances, including a memorable headed Old Firm winner against Celtic at Parkhead in 2019.

Celtic have allowed out-of-favour Albian Ajeti to sign for Austrian side Sturm Graz on a season-long loan.

The Swiss striker arrived in Glasgow on a four-year-deal from West Ham United in a £5million transfer two years ago.

However, the 25-year-old has struggled to make his mark at Parkhead and has been deemed surplus to requirements by Ange Postecoglou.

His new club retain an option to make the deal permanent next summer, which would see the Hoops recoup some (£2.1m) of the fee they paid for Ajeti’s services in the summer of 2020.

Postecoglou said: “Albi came in at a real difficult time for the club, with the Covid experience. I can just imagine it would have been very hard for the players during that time.

“I then come along and change direction, but Albi is a good player and just needs an opportunity to go and play.

“Just because some players don’t fit in here, doesn’t mean they can’t have strong careers elsewhere.”

Former Rangers loanee Amad Diallo has left Old Trafford to join newly-promoted English Championship side Sunderland on loan.

The Manchester United winger spent a disappointing six-month spell at Ibrox during the second half of last season and has now been given another chance to impress south of the border.

The Ivory Coast international scored on his Gers debut against Ross County back in January but failed to live up to his early promise and played a sporadic role thereafter during the club’s run to the Europa League final and Scottish Cup triumph.

Diallo will now team up with ex-Celtic manager Tony Mowbray at the Stadium of Light as he looks to catch the eye of Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed he is expecting some last-gasp transfers to take place at Parkhead before tonight’s deadline.

Rubin Kazan midfielder Oliver Abildgaard has been strongly rumoured to join former team mate Sead Hakasabanovic in Glasgow, according to reports this morning.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed the 26-year-old is nearing a transfer, with an “agreement reached” between both parties.

With Albian Ajeti’s exit already finalised, winger Mikey Johnston and midfielder James McCarthy could also depart on loan deals.

Postecoglou issued an update to supporters, admitting: “They can expect some transfers and ins and outs, i guess.

“We will see what happens. Potentially there could be an opportunity to bring someone in.”

Asked specificially about interest in Danish midfielder Abildgaard, Postecoglou said last night: “It’s definitely a name. There’s been a lot of names.

“There’s still things, some outgoings we are still working on. We will see how things fall and see what comes of it.”

Former Rangers defender Leon Balogun has posted a poignant farewell to Glasgow after penning a one-year deal with Michael Beale’s QPR.

The 34-year-old centre-back became a firm favourite among the Ibrox support during his two-year-spell before the club opted against renewing his a new contract earlier this summer.

Ally McCoist previously urged his old club to re-sign Balogun earlier this month following the first-leg of their Champions League play-off tie against PSV Eindhoven, during which Rangers conceded two goals from set pieces.

Balogun had been spotted watching his ex-team mates from the stands at Ibrox as he continued his search for a new club and he clearly built up a strong connection with the Govan outfit during his time in Scottish football.

The Nigeria international had remained a free agent until last Friday when he put pen to paper at Loftus Road.

Sitting on a plane at the departure gates of Glasgow airport, Balogun wrote on Instagram: “All packed up, apartment cleared and just as I’m on my way to the gate I look out and see this...”

He was referring to the number 26 at the gate directly opposite him - the shirt number he chose to wear at Rangers.

He captioned the post: “Goodbye Glasgow, it’s been extra special,” accompanied by a blue heart and crying emoji.

Celtic will NOT be signing highly-rated St Mirren youngster Dylan Reid this month.

According to the Scottish Sun, the Hoops have ‘walked away’ from the deal after the 17-year-old midfielder emerged as a target to initially join the ‘B’ team earlier in the transfer window.

The Parkhead club’s interested in the Scotland youth international was understood to have been reginited earlier this week but it now appears any contract offer is no longer on the table.

Saints previously accepted a bid of £125,000 for the player but Reid now looks likely to remain in Paisley.

As per NationalWorld football writer Molly Burke, Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara could be set for a deadline day departure.

The 26-year-old has previously been linked with a reunion with Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, however it is French club Nice that are chasing him in a potential £10million deal.

Kamara has made only two appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season after losing his place in the starting line-up and could look to leave Ibrox to pick up more game time.

A move to big-spending Nice would also reunite him with former teammate Aaron Ramsey, who joined the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer from Juventus this summer.

Kamara joined Rangers for only £50,000 three years ago and would guarantee the club a huge profit if he was to leave.

Oliver Abildgaard has arrived in Glasgow ahead of finalising a move to Celtic on loan.

The Hoops reportedly agreed a deal to bring the towering Rubin Kazan midfielder to Parkhead last night and the player has now touched down to complete the formalities of what will initially be a temporary deal.

The Danish international, who remains under contract with the Russian club until 2024, is understood to be eager to leave the country due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

GlasgowWorld understands Abildgaard passed his medical in London yesterday and is now in line to become Ange Postecoglou’s NINTH summer signing.

He will be Celtic’s third arrival from Rubin Kazan in the past 12 months after the recent addition of Sead Haksabanovic and the acquisition of Carl Starfelt last year.

Standing a 6ft 4”, Abildgaard started his career with Aalborg in his homeland, making 91 appearances for the club.

The 26-year-old then made a surprise switch to Russia in 2020 and has established himself as a regular starter under head coach Leonid Slutsky.

He will compete with the likes of Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and Matt O’Riley for a place in the starting XI.

Celtic had been credited with an interest in Ferencvaros star Ryan Mmaee but French side Nantes are the latest club to have been informed he won’t be sold until after the World Cup.

The Moroccan international featured highly on the Hoops list of potential signing targets earlier in the window but were told by the Hungarian champions he was not for sale.

Their stance hasn’t changed after the Ligue 1 outfit launched an official approach for the attacker.

Mmaee is expected to be called up to his national team for the tournament in Qatar later this year and Ferencvaros are eager to keep hold of the player until, at least, the end of the year.

Stoke City will NOT be making an offer to bring Celtic outcast James McCarthy to the bet365 Stadium on loan.

Various reports had linked the English Championship side, managed by newly-appointed boss Alex Neil, with a move for the Republic of Ireland international.

However, it appears Stoke are exploring other midfield options.

The Parkhead club are reportedly ‘open to offers’ for McCarthy, who signed a four-year deal last summer but hasn’t been able to nail down a regular starting place.

With the imminent arrival of Oliver Abildgaard likely to push him further down the pecking order, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou won’t stand in the player’s way in terms of a departure.

Liam Shaw is another Hoops player who could be on his way out later today....

Ex-Celtic defender Jack Hendry has agreed a loan move to Serie A newcomers U.S Cremonese until the end of the 2022/23 season.

The 27-year-old centre-back, who is contract to parent club Club Brugge until 2025, has fallen out of favour in Belgium.

Hendry arrived in Italy last night to finalise the paperwork on a deal which could become permanent if Cremonese decide to trigger a €5million buyout clause next summer.

The Lombardy-based side earned promotion to the top-flight after finishing runners-up behind Serie B champions Lecce last term.

Speaking to Italian football report Gianluca Dimarzio last night, Hendry said: “I can’t wait.

“Obviously, I like going out my comfort zone and coming to Italy I think will be a great experience. It will be amazing.”

Glen Kamara trained with his Rangers team mates earlier today ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm derby, amid strong interest from ambitious Ligue 1 side Nice.

Reports this morning suggested the Finland international was absent from the club’s training base at Auchenhowie as speculation surrounding his future continues to mount.

However, that is not the case with the midfielder continuing his preparations to face rivals Celtic as normal.

The Glasgow giants want to keep hold of the 26-year-old, who still has three years remaining on his current deal at Ibrox, but are bracing themselves for a late bid.

Kamara sat out of last weekend’s 4-1 win over Ross County with a knee injury but returned to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s starting line-up for their Premier Sports Cup victory against Queen of the South on Tuesday.

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst doesn’t expect any further signings as the clock ticks down to the transfer deadline.

The Dutchman has added seven new signings to his squad this summer and is happy with the business already completed earlier in the window.

However, he admits the Ibrox club will be ready for any last minute dealings before the midnight deadline.

He stated: “I’m quite relaxed but you have got to be prepared.

“At the moment I think this is the squad we’re going to have. We created this squad to be competitive and to reach the Champions League as well, which they did.”

It comes after former Gers defender Alan Hutton identified areas of the current squad he reckons need addressing.

He told Football Insider: “I believe Giovanni van Bronckhorst had a plan A and a plan B depending on what happened with the Champions League.

“Hopefully they can go forward now and get their top targets. For Rangers still, centre-back is an issue.

“There’s issues up front. If the right opportunity comes about, I think they will strengthen.”

Owen Moffat ventured south yesterday as the former Celtic winger joined Blackpool on a three-year-deal.

The Hoops academy product, who joined the Parkhead youth system at the age of seven, scored one of the first goals of Ange Postecoglou’s reign when he found the net in a 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Sheffield Wednesday last summer.

Having starred for the club’s B team last season, the 20-year-old has opted for a new challenge in England where he will link up with Michael Appleton’s Seasiders - initialy working with their development squad.

His parents have since posted an emotional message on social media, thanking Celtic and their fans for the support their son received during his 13-year stay in Glasgow’s East End.

Moffat’s mum Lisa wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely delighted for my son Owen Moffat (Moff) on the completion of his move to Blackpool FC. Huge thanks to both Celtic and Blackpool fans for their lovely comments #UTMP.

Posting a video of her son’s highlights in a Hoops jersey as he rose up through the academy, she added: “Thank you and may God bless every single fan who has taken Owen into their hearts from day one, and wished him well both on the pitch and in public.

“One of our own... To know him is to love him... Everywhere we go...”

Moffat’s dad Alan tweeted: “Great move for Owen the hard work and dedication has got him this far, now the hard work continues.

“Proud of him, thank you @CelticFC for the support and memories. Onto a new chapter @BlackpoolFC.”

Celtic winger Mikey Johnston is nearing a loan move to Vitoria Guimaraes before the end of the transfer window.

With just under seven hours before the deadline, the 23-year-old has snubbed interest from Premiership rivals Hearts by flying out to Portugal as he gets set to finalise his switch to the Primeira Liga outfit.

Johnson, who is understood to still be in Ange Postecoglou’s long-term plans, has struggled for game time at Parkhead in recent months and will now continue his development abroad until the end of the season.

Belgian side Standard Liege, who are managed by ex-Celtic boss Ronny Deila, had hoped to sign the attacker earlier this month but Portugal is his preferred destination where he’ll play against the likes of Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Porto.

Johnston has been plagued by injuries in recent years, making just 20 appearances last term with the majority of those coming off the bench.