Scottish Gossip: Celtic eye Croatia midfielder, St Mirren boss link

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are considering a move for 22-year-old Rijeka midfielder Ivan Mocinic, who made his Croatia debut last month. Daily Mail

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson is backing calls for league reconstruction but not as an escape from the drop for the Tannadice club since he does not propose a change to the current set-up before the summer of 2017. (Various)

Alex Rae is the front-runner to replace Ian Murray as manager at St Mirren and the former Dundee boss could be in place before the weekend. Sun

Nadir Ciftci thinks he could form a good partnership with Leigh Griffiths if Celtic manager Ronny Deila ever chooses to play with two strikers. Daily Record

Hibernian midfielder John McGinn will be at a Hampden hearing today to plead his case in a bid to overturn the red card he was shown against Falkirk last Saturday. (Various)

St Johnstone striker John Sutton is waiting to hear if the departure of St Mirren boss Ian Murray will impact a proposed loan switch to the Buddies next month. (Daily Mail)

Hearts head coach does not expect injured duo Jamie Walker and Soufian El Hassanaoui to return until the new year. (Various)

Hamilton are taking a look at Norwich forward Jamar Loza, with the 21-year-old Jamaica international training with the club this week. (Sun)

Hamilton boss Martin Canning is hoping he can get through the rest of the season without putting his boots back on as Michael Devlin nears a return from long-term injury to add competition in central defence. (Various)

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes returned to training yesterday following his two-week suspension from the club. (Various)

Former Rangers assistant Archie Knox thinks it is "vital" that the Ibrox club add to their squad in January and believes manager Mark Warburton has already proved a shrewd operator in the transfer market. Herald

Rangers are lining up a move for Wolves teenager Mekhi Leacock-McLeod, who played in a closed doors under-20s game for the Championship leaders on Tuesday. (Sun)

Former Celtic captain and manager Billy McNeill says it will be an emotional day when his statue is unveiled outside Celtic Park on Saturday. (Various)

Lawyers acting for former Rangers chief executive Charles Green are appealing a legal decision which allows the club to not pay the businessman's legal bills. (Scotsman)

Former Falkirk striker Pedro Moutinho, 36, is being considered for the vacant manager's post at Forfar Athletic. (The National)

Hibs boss Alan Stubbs has ruled out the possibility of Derek Riordan joining the club for a third time. The 32-year-old striker has been training with his former team in recent weeks. Scotsman

Scotland and Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur insists he's shrugging off speculation linking him with a shock move to Arsenal in January. Daily Record

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade says on-loan Scottish striker Tony Watt, 21, is playing his way to a permanent deal, with two goals in four games. (The National)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is being lined up for a world title fight next year if he comes through a test on the Anthony Joshua undercard in April. (Sun)