Friday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Manager Ronny Deila failed in a late bid to convince 16-year-old Norwegian sensation Martin Odegaard to sign for Celtic instead of Real Madrid, admitting "I knew it was going to be hard to get him to sign for Celtic with all the options he had". (Daily Express)

Deila has, however, refused to rule out trying to tempt the Spanish giants to let him take the teenager on loan. (Daily Record)

And Deila has praised striker Leigh Griffiths for forcing himself into the first team at Celtic, insisting the hitman has a "world-class" left foot. (The National)

Midfielder Beram Kayal has left Celtic and will join English Championship side Brighton. (Herald)

Aberdeen striker Adam Rooney hopes to increase the pressure on Celtic by beating St Johnstone on Friday night to ensure the Dons go top of the table again. (Daily Express)

Norwegian teenager Marin Odegaard has completed his move to Real Madrid

And Rooney insists he and strike partner David Goodwillie will get even better now they are both on longer term deals with the Dons. (Daily Express)

Martin Canning's appointment as Hamilton boss is part of an overhaul of the club that will see former Accies and Hibernian midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin become their head of youth development. A first team coach will also be appointed. (Daily Express)

Dundee United midfielder John Rankin is desperate to see the Tangerines end their recent run of poor results on the road. (Daily Express)

Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson believes the Ibrox fans will put their problems with the club's board aside to come out for the Fernando Ricksen tribute match on Sunday. (Various)

And Ferguson says the Rangers manager's job is still one of the top positions in football despite the troubles the club has suffered in recent years. (Daily Record)

St Mirren midfielder Kenny McLean believes caretaker manager Gary Teale should be given the job on a full time basis. (Daily Express)

Kilmarnock's Manuel Pascali insists his foul-mouthed outburst at half time in the 1-0 defeat at Dundee was not directed at his own fans, despite the Italian admitting he was targeted for abuse. (Daily Record)

Steven McLean has hit out at Inverness Caley Thistle's Carl Tremarco for saying St Johnstone "gave up" in Tuesday's defeat to the Highlanders, insisting that is the "worst insult" you could throw at the Perth men. (Daily Record)

Adam Rooney (right) believes his partnership with David Goodwillie at Aberdeen will get even better

Boss Alan Archibald says the injury to captain Sean Welsh took the shine off Partick Thistle's 5-0 hammering of Hamilton. (Daily Record)

And Kris Doolan, who scored four goals in the rout of Accies, insists Partick have now set their sights on a top six finish in the Premiership. (Daily Record)

Inverness assistant manager Russell Latapy says his side will not give up their passing style in the chase to secure a European place. (Daily Record)

Former Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has turned down the chance to return to the dugout as boss of English League One side Gillingham. (Daily Express)

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs is confident Liam Craig, Lewis Stevenson and Scott Robertson, who are all out of contract in the summer, will sign new deals to stay at Easter Road. (Daily Record)

Falkirk manager Peter Houston says Hamilton must make a "proper" offer if they want to sign striker Rory Loy, with the Bairns having rejected a £25,000 bid for the player. (Daily Record)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has refused to rule out selling Darren Fletcher in January, with West Ham, West Brom and Valencia all keen on the Scotland midfielder. (Daily Express)

Referee Craig Thomson will take charge of the League Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers. (Daily Record)

Stuart Hogg says Glasgow's Pro12 final disappointment will inspire them against they face Bath

Former Rangers star Ronald De Boer reckons the club's supporters can make fan ownership work, just like Barcelona do. (Daily Record)

Inter Milan, who face Celtic in the Europa League last 32, saw new boy Xherdan Shaqiri score his first goal for the club in the Italian Cup win over Sampdoria. (Various)

Ryan Gauld scored his first goals for Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night and then pleaded with people to stop calling him the 'Mini Messi." (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Glasgow Warriors' Sean Maitland has vowed to help his side to a successful season, after agreeing a deal to join London Irish in the summer. (Daily Express)

Maitland decided to leave Warriors because he is keen to move from the wing to full-back. (Scotsman)

Glasgow's Stuart Hogg believes the Pro12 final loss to Leinster last season will drive the players on to reach the knockout phase of the European Champions Cup. (Daily Record)

Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons insists Scotland call-ups for Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson will help the players flourish. (Daily Mail)