Saturday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are prepared to meet Dundee United's £2.5m asking price for midfielder Stuart Armstrong - but only if the Tannadice club throw in £500,000-rated winger Gary Mackay-Steven, who has already signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Glasgow in the summer, into the deal. (The Sun, print edition)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila says he is well versed in the bitterness and acrimony associated with a local derby, the former Stromsgodset coach revealing that he cannot even bring himself to call their biggest rivals, Mjondalen, by their name and simply refers to them by their postcode. (Daily Record)

Rangers are the second best team in Scotland, according to Celtic manager Ronny Deila ahead of the Glasgow rivals meeting in Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final. (Daily Record, print edition)

Former Celtic striker John Hartson says Ronny Deila would not survive as manager should Rangers win Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final. (The Sun, print edition)

Rangers caretaker manager Kenny McDowall, who has faced Celtic as a coach 26 times already, has warned his opposite number, Ronny Deila, that nothing can fully prepare him for his first taste of the Old Firm fixture on Sunday. (The Scotsman)

Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton is looking forward to what he describes as "one of the biggest game in the world" when his side take on Glasgow rivals Rangers in Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final. (The Herald)

Scotland and West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans is reportedly interesting Birmingham and Middlesbrough

Rangers striker Jon Daly is hoping it is third time lucky against Celtic in semi-finals, having lost twice to the Glasgow side at the national stadium despite finding the net three times over the course of the ties while with Dundee United. (The Scotsman)

Rangers players are still in the midst of a ticket row with the club's board as they fear for the safety of their families, who have had to buy tickets in among the fans in the main stand at Hampden. (The Sun, print edition)

Rangers' absence from Scotland's top flight is wrecking Scottish football as there is no competition for Celtic, according to the champions' former manager, Neil Lennon. (The Sun, print edition)

Newcastle United head coach John Carver has not spoken to club owner Mike Ashley, the Rangers shareholder, four weeks into his stint in charge at St James' Park. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Old Firm fans are being urged by Rangers supporters to come together during Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final to honour a terminally ill teenager by chanting "There's only one Jak Trueman" in the 20th minute of the match at Hampden. (Daily Record)

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has vowed to unleash "11 animals" against Dundee United at Hampden on Saturday as they look to continue their defence of the Scottish League Cup. (Daily Mail)

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara's sideboard at home displays twice as many top-class honours as the trophy cabinet at Tannadice and the former Celtic midfielder says that must change. (Daily Record)

The quality of football played by Hibernian in their Scottish League Cup defeat by Dundee United persuaded right-back Keith Watson to move on loan from Tannadice to Easter Road. (The Scotsman)

Scotland defender Rachel Corsie is heading for Seattle Reign from Notts County

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has enquired about the availability of West Brom's Scotland midfielder, Graham Dorrans, with Championship rivals Middlesbrough also interested. (Daily Mail, print edition)

James McFadden has apologised for making a gesture towards Hamilton Accies fans after the St Johnstone striker, who lives in Hamilton, was sent off last month. (Daily Record, print edition)

Defender Simon Mensing is poised to finalise a move to US second-tier outfit Atlanta Silverbacks after leaving Livingston by mutual consent. (Daily Record, print edition)

Scotland defender Rachel Corsie has signed for US top-flight outfit Seattle Reign after one season in England's Super League with Notts County. (The Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Sky Sports will pay more than £10m per year to snatch exclusive live rights for Open Championship golf from the BBC, with the sport's ruling body, the R&A, poised to announce next week it will end the national broadcaster's 59-year ownership of the rigths after the next tournament at St Andrews in July. (Daily Mail, print edition)

Scots will wager more than £20m in a bets bonanza on this weekend's massive sports events, bookies say, with Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers involved in two Scottish League Cup semi-finals and Andy Murray facing Novak Djokovic in Sunday's Australian Open final. (Daily Record)

Scotland have been given an indication of the personnel they are likely to face in their forthcoming Six Nations opener after opponents France unveiled the 23 players who will be excused club duty this weekend. (The Herald)