Scottish Gossip: Rangers and Warburton, Celtic and Bitton, Ciftci sale

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rangers' attempts to lure former Brentford manager Mark Warburton to Ibrox have been complicated by a potential counter offer from English Championship outfit Fulham. (Daily Record)

Rangers chairman Dave King has held talks with Mark Warburton over the manager's vacancy at Ibrox and the former Brentford boss's appointment is expected next week despite competition from Valencia coach Ian Cathro, former Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies and Aberdeen's Derek McInnes. (Daily Mail)

Jon Daly has hit back at Rangers chairman Dave King's claim that he and his 10 outgoing Rangers team-mates were a waste of money, with the striker saying he never got the chance to show he could be an asset. (Daily Record)

Dundee United are ready to sell Nadir Ciftci after the 23-year-old Turkish striker rejected the offer of extending his contract beyond next summer. (Daily Express)

Celtic are poised to increase their interest in Nadir Ciftci after the striker rejected the offer of a contract extension with Dundee United, with the Scottish champions also edging close to beating Ajax to the £1.6m transfer of Willem II left-back Mitchell Dijks. (Daily Mail)

Will Mark Warburton give the thumbs up to Rangers or Fulham?

Israel midfielder Nir Bitton has insisted he is not interested in moving to the English Premier League and wants to stay with Celtic despite being linked with a big-money transfer. (The Herald)

Former Celtic full-back Mark Wilson, who has been released by Dumbarton, believes his pursuit of a new playing deal is hampered because many now choose to associate him with an incident in Glasgow's Ashton Lane in October that will result in Dundee United's Paul Paton standing trial later this year for allegedly assaulting Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska. (The Scotsman)

Wigan Athletic are considering a summer move for Dundee United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak, who is also attracting interest from AEL Limassol. (Daily Express, print edition)

Dundee are poised to sign former Central Coast Mariners midfielder Jesse Curran after the 18-year-old Australian impressed on trial. (The Sun, print edition)

Raith Rovers are poised to secure the loan signing of highly rated Dundee striker Craig Wighton, with the Kirkcaldy club's new manager, Ray McKinnon, having had the 17-year-old previously at Brechin City. (The Herald)

Glasgow-born Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy could leave Everton after the 24-year-old failed to secure an improved contract. (Daily Mail)

Queen's Park are poised to launch a partnership with the University of the West of Scotland that could result in English Premier League youngsters joining his squad, with students from across the UK studying for degree qualifications while training full-time and playing with the League Two amateurs. (The Herald)

Cash-strapped League Two club Clyde have axed their entire youth set-up ahead of next season, blaming decreased funding from the Scottish FA. (STV)

Dundee United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak is being linked with Wigan Athletic

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has criticised the soft "sanitised" culture of British football, claiming that teenagers lack the hunger of counterparts from Africa and South America. (The Times)

Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been warned that they should be on their guard against any threat to strip the home nations of their separate status as a result of the crisis at world governing body Fifa, where a new president will be elected to replace Sepp Blatter. (The Scotsman)

The Scottish Football Association has not ruled out further links with Qatar despite the criticism received over last week's friendly international at Easter Road, which was boycotted by some supporters in protest at the alleged abuse of migrant workers' rights in the construction of stadiums for the 2022 World Cup finals. (The Scotsman)

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan has accused his under pressure Irish counterpart, John Delaney, of "ludicrous" conduct ahead of Saturday's crucial Euro 2016 qualifier in Dublin over the receipt of a five million euro payment from Fifa to prevent the Football Association of Ireland taking legal action over the Thierry Henry handball incident in their 2010 World Cup qualifying play-off tie against France. (The Scotsman)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland Sevens' record try scorer, Andrew Turnbull, has made the decision to retire from professional rugby at the age of 33. (The Scotsman)

New opportunities for leading curlers not currently involved in the full-time British programme look set to be created by the introduction of mixed doubles into the next Winter Olympics. (The Herald)