Gossip column: Allan, Advocaat, Rangers, Motherwell and Celtic

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are poised to vie with Rangers this summer for the signature of Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan, the 23-year-old voted Championship player of the year. (Daily Mail)

Norwich City are poised to pip Celtic to the signature of Nijmegen winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh, the 21-year-old Iran international. (HITC Sport)

Sunderland will step up their bid to woo David Moyes from Real Sociedad after Dick Advocaat decided not to take up the offer of a longer-term contract after leading the Black Cats clear of relegation. (Daily Mirror)

Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has ruled himself out of a return to Ibrox despite also rejecting the opportunity to become permanent head coach at Sunderland after leading the English club clear of relegation. (The Herald)

Motherwell general manager Alan Burrows says a stubborn stand-off between his club and Rangers that forced him to shut down half of his club's South Stand for the Premiership play-off second leg against Rangers could have been prevented if the Scottish Professional Football League had stepped into the row as mediator. (Daily Record)

Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is being linked with Celtic and Norwich City

Rangers manager Stuart McCall has been playing fantasy league football with his pals at Motherwell all season but says he will not shirk from the challenge of relegating his former club in their Premiership play-off final. (Daily Record)

Rangers manager Stuart McCall has revealed he will not celebrate should his side win promotion by defeating his former club, Motherwell, in the Premiership play-off final. (The Herald)

Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough believes there is a collective desire within Scottish football for Rangers to defeat his team in the Premiership play-off final. (The Scotsman)

Former Rangers defender Steven Whittaker, who has just helped Norwich City return to England's top flight after a play-off, reckons Scottish football will benefit by the Ibrox side beating Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership play-off. (Daily Record)

Fresh from helping Norwich City return to England's Premier League via a play-off, former Motherwell goalkeeper John Ruddy is rooting for the Fir Park club to follow his lead and beat Rangers to stay in the Premiership. (Daily Record)

Hamilton Academical will bank about £100,000 as a direct result of Alex Neil leading Norwich City to the English Premier League because of a clause in the deal that took the manager from New Douglas Park to Carrow Road. (The Herald, print edition)

Partick Thistle striker Kallum Higginbotham is reportedly close to joining Kilmarnock

Former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink believes it will be better for all parties if his fellow Dutchman, Virgil van Dijk, is sold now by Celtic for a suitable price to an English Premier League club where the defender can flourish as a player. (The Herald)

Virgil van Dijk has been warned by former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink that he must pick the right club for his next move or the defender might regret leaving the Scottish champions. (Daily Record)

Kilmarnock are close to finalising the signings of Partick Thistle striker Kallum Higginbotham and Hearts midfielder Scott Robinson. (The Herald, print edition)

Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke has told defender Manuel Pascali and midfielder Alexei Eremenko that he wants a final answer by Monday to the Premiership club's offer of a new contract. (Daily Record, print edition)

East Fife player-manager Gary Naysmith has signed a new contract with the League Two club. (Daily Record, print edition)

St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson is to undergo a summer operation in an attempt to cure an ankle problem. (The Sun, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

George Best is related to Glasgow Warriors full-back Stuart Hogg

Glasgow Warriors full-back Stuart Hogg is expecting some home support when his side face Munster in the Pro12 final in Belfast after discovering that he is distantly related to Northern Ireland football legend George Best. (The Scotsman)

The magic of playing in an Open Championship at St Andrews has enticed Colin Montgomerie, fresh from winning the US PGA Seniors Championship, to plan a 5,500-mile mad dash from Los Angeles to London in a bid to qualify. (The Scotsman)

Back surgery in September 2013 was vital to Andy Murray's recent, improved clay court form, according to mother Judy. (The Herald, print edition)

Judy Murray believes her son, Andy, has been proven right in his choice of Amélie Mauresmo as coach because the Scot is playing some of his best-ever tennis under the Frenchwoman's guidance. (The Scotsman)

Captain Preston Mommsen has begged England and Wales cricket bosses to include Scotland in any rejigged County Championship. (The Herald)