Scottish Gossip: Rotherham bid for Allan as Hibs reject Rangers offer

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rotherham United have tabled a £400,000 bid for Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan in an attempt to trump Rangers, who have made a third attempt to sign the 23-year-old after the Edinburgh rejected two offers saying they would not sell to their Scottish Championship rivals. (Daily Express, print edition)

Hibernian have rejected a third offer from Rangers for midfielder Scott Allan. (The Sun, print edition)

Former Rangers defender Richard Gough has tipped James Tavernier, the right-back bought from Wigan Athletic this summer, to eventually win a £4m move back to English football.(The Scotsman)

Scottish groundsman Steve MacKinnon, who answered a plea from Qarabag five weeks ago to restore the pitch at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium to an acceptable level after being ruined by track and field events at the European Athletics Championships in June, has rejected local media claims that he has been doing his best to sabotage the Azerbaijan side's Champions League qualification chances against Celtic. (Daily Record)

Celtic were granted official permission to train on Qarabag's pitch after European governing body Uefa initially said the Glasgow side would not be allowed on the heat damaged surface at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.(Daily Record)

Celtic will sell Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk if they fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages and already have a replacement lined up. (Daily Mail)

Craig Samson could be on his way out of Kilmarnock according to The Sun

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes referee Willie Collum was "absolutely spot-on" not to send him off in Celtic's 2-0 Scottish Premiership win over Ross County on Saturday.(The Scotsman)

Striker Nadir Ciftci and goalkeeper Craig Gordon were among a Celtic party who brought presents to under-privileged youngsters in Baku on a visit to one of the city's shelters for families and children. (Daily Record)

Hearts fan Peter Ashton, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in October, passed away at his home in Midlothian only two days after thousands of football fans paid tribute to him at Sunday's Premiership game against St Johnstone.(Daily Record)

Hearts are expecting an increased third bid from Ipswich Town for defender Jordan McGhee, the English Championship club having had their latest, £250,000 offer rejected. (Daily Express, print edition)

Kilmarnock are trying to offload Craig Samson - by opening negotiations to end the Scotland squad goalkeeper's contract early after signing Jamie MacDonald from Falkirk. (The Sun, print edition)

Kilmarnock striker Dale Carrick, the 21-year-old signed from Hearts this summer, has been ruled out for three months after picking up an injury as a substitute in Saturday's 4-0 loss to Dundee. (The Sun, print edition)

Raith Rovers striker Lewis Vaughan could be ruled out for the rest of the season after the 19-year-old suffered knee cruciate ligament damage in Saturday's 3-0 Scottish League Cup win over Albion Rovers.(The Herald)

Dundee United say Mario Bilate could be fit in time for Tuesday's derby against Dundee following fears that the striker could be out for a lengthy spell after being substituted against Aberdeen on Sunday. (Daily Record, print edition)

St Johnstone midfielder Chris Millar's groin injury is not as serious as first feared and the 32-year-old does not face a lengthy spell on the sidelines but remains a doubt for Saturday's visit by Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (Daily Express, print edition)

Former Scotland forward Derek Riordan is on trial with Brechin City

Former Hibernian, Celtic, St Johnstone and Scotland forward Derek Riordan could sign for former Easter Road defender Darren Dods' Brechin City after playing in a bounce game against Falkirk. The 32-year-old has been looking for a new club since leaving League Two club East Fife. (The Scotsman)

Ross County have ended their interest in Croatian striker Andrej Keric, formerly of Sparta Prague, but continue to search for a new goalscorer. (Daily Record, print edition)

Former Hearts striker Calum Elliot, who was forced to retire this summer through injury at the age of 28, has been appointed the new manager of junior club Edinburgh United, replacing Jack Lynch despite not possessing any coaching badges or experience in the dugout. (The Herald)

Livingston have signed goalkeeper Matt Gould after a tip-off from the 21-year-old's father - manager Mark Burchill's former Celtic team-mate Jonathan. (The Scotsman, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andy Murray is back on hard courts for the first time in four months - and back at the Citi Open for the first time in nine years, the two-time major champion being seeded number one at this week's warm-up event for the US Open.(The Scotsman)