Scottish Gossip: Simunovic & Christie close in on Celtic moves

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Dinamo Zagreb defender Jozo Simunovic is expected to fly to Scotland on Tuesday to complete a £5.5m move to Celtic after undergoing a medical in Belgium on Monday. (Sun - subscription required)

Celtic's double signing of Simunovic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Ryan Christie will prompt defender Virgil van Dijk's £10m exit with Southampton and possibly Stoke City keen on the Dutchman. (Daily Express)

Van Dijk's £11m move to Southampton will make Celtic £8.5m in profit with the Scottish champions having to pay the Dutchman's former club Groningen £900,000. (Daily Record)

Simunovic could be Celtic's marquee transfer deadline day signing

Full-back Saidy Janko believes Celtic loan signing from Manchester United, Tyler Blackett, can fill any void left by Van Dijk's expected departure. (Daily Mail)

Blackett revealed first-team football was central to his decision to come to Glasgow. (Scotsman)

Scotland assistant coach Mark McGhee believes the Celtic players in the national squad will be eager to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League in the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Georgia and Germany. (Daily Record)

And McGhee believes Celtic captain Scott Brown, who had an injury scare at the weekend, is one player Scotland can scarcely afford to be without. (Scotsman)

Brown picked up a knock against St Johnstone but has joined up with the Scotland squad

Germany manager Joachim Low has vowed to deliver wins against Poland and Scotland this coming weekend as the race for next year's finals heats up. (Herald)

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan has hit back at criticism of referees after officials came under fierce scrutiny during the weekend. (Scotsman)

USA coach Tab Ramos believes Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem's loan spell at Rangers can help him become a star for the national team at the 2018 World Cup. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has chosen his Rugby World Cup squad

The 31 men to be named in Scotland's Rugby World Cup squad have been told of their inclusion and the squad will be publicly announced on Tuesday afternoon. (Scotsman)

John Barclay and Blair Cowan have been omitted from the final squad by head coach Vern Cotter. (Daily Mail, print edition).

Andy Murray's US Open first-round opponent Nick Kyrgios has heaped praise on the Scot but the Australian has warned he feels in the "best shape" ahead of their meeting at Flushing Meadows. (Daily Record)