Scottish Gossip: Cifti, Stjarnan, McCall and Zidane

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara says his club will stand firm on their £1.5m asking price for striker Nadir Ciftci. Celtic have so far had two bids knocked back for the 23-year-old. (Daily Record)

Nadir Ciftci is wanted by Celtic

However the Tannadice gaffer admits it will be a struggle to keep the Turkish-born frontman for the new campaign, with Wigan also trailing their star player. (Daily Express)

Stjarnan manager Runar Pall Sigmundsson is confident his side can knock Celtic out of the Champions League qualifiers after watching from the stand as Ronny Deila's men lost 5-3 to Dukla Prague in a friendly in Paisley. (Daily Express)

Sigmundsson described the Scottish champions as "full of holes". However he admitted his side, who knocked Motherwell and Lech Poznan out of last season's Europa League, will "have to play their best ever matches" to beat Celtic. (Daily Record)

St Johnstone have taken former Rangers youth Rhys McCabe on trial. The 22-year-old midfielder left Sheffield Wednesday over summer. (Sun)

Former Rangers manager Stuart McCall is to put a return to club management on hold to concentrate on helping Scotland qualify for Euro 2016. (Various)

Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs is considering handing deals to defender Keith Watson and goalkeeper Antonio Reguero. (Scotsman)

Scottish Cup runners-up Falkirk could be set to sign former Hibs and Kilmarnock striker Paul Heffernan. (Various)

Scotland prospect Jack Harper is set to find out his Real Madrid future

Scottish teenager Jack Harper will find out this week if he still has a future at Real Madrid. Coach Zinedine Zidane will soon announce which youths he wants to step up, with Harper, 19, too old to play for the kids' team at the Bernabeu. (Sun, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andy Murray's next Wimbledon opponent Ivo Karlovic believes he has the best serve in the world, and will use it to knock the Scotsman out of the tournament when they meet this afternoon. (Daily Record)

UK champion Eilidh Child says she is ready to take on the world after her 400m hurdles win in Birmingham booked her place in the World Championships in Beijing next month. Fellow Scots Laura Muir and Lynsey Sharp made it a hat-trick of qualifiers. (Daily Express, print edition)