Scottish Gossip: Dembele, Liverpool, Micael, Rangers, MacPhee

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic striker Moussa Dembele is a target for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is also keen on Southampton's former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk. (Sunday Express)

Premiership leaders Celtic hope to sign players who want to stay at the club "for a number of years" as they prepare to build for next season's Champions League, says manager Brendan Rodgers. (Scotland on Sunday)

Rodgers revealed he held a three-hour strategy meeting with Celtic major shareholder Dermot Desmond and feels well positioned to build his squad for next term. (Mail Online)

Austin MacPhee, who attended Rangers' win over Aberdeen, is being linked with Hearts and the SFA

Hearts want Northern Ireland assistant Austin MacPhee to work alongside Ian Cathro in a new managerial team, with Cathro replacing head coach Robbie Neilson following the latter's move to MK Dons. MacPhee has also been linked with the Scottish FA's performance director role. (Scotland on Sunday)

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd knows Cathro from a Pro Licence course they both attended and says he is "one of the up-and-coming, modern-era coaches" but believes the 30-year-old would "way, way out of his depth" if he became Hearts boss. (Sun)

Watford have joined Derby County in the race to sign Hearts and Scotland right-back Callum Paterson. (Sunday Mail)

Rangers are interested in signing Portuguese midfielder Ruben Micael from Chinese Super League club Shijiazhuang Ever Bright. (Sunday Mail)

Micael previously played with Braga

Middlesbrough will make Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes, 26, available for transfer. (Northern Echo)

Celtic are among the clubs with an interest in Rhodes, with English Premier League clubs Burnley and Hull also keen. (Mail Online)

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has also been given a green light to pursue an interest in Rhodes. (Birmingham Mail)