Thursday's Scottish Gossip: Rangers, Celtic, Norwich, Man Utd, Moyes, Strachan, Murray

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

David Moyes, who resigned from Sunderland last month, has been identified by the Scottish FA as their preferred successor to Gordon Strachan, with the Scotland head coach's future in doubt should they lose to England in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Hampden. (The Times)

Scotland assistant Mark McGhee says his players are keen to defeat England on Saturday to ensure head coach Gordon Strachan retains his job. (Daily Record)

Former Scotland Under-21 manager Ricky Sbragia is standing down as a national youth coach in one of a number of changes to the age-group set-up. (Scottish Sun)

Lowland League champions East Kilbride have targeted Billy Stark after Martin Lauchlan departed as team boss, but the former Scotland Under-21 manager could rejoin Darren Young at East Fife having worked with their manager at Albion Rovers. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Rangers look poised to make Santos Laguna defender Javier Abella their third Mexican signing in a week after his club confirmed they were in negotiations to sell the 23-year-old. (Daily Record)

Winger Daniel Candeias, the 29-year-old who has yet to play for Benfica after being on loan at Nurnberg, Granada, Metz and Alanyaspor, would welcome the chance to move to Rangers. (Scottish Sun)

Rangers are preparing a second offer of £1m for Norwich City's Graham Dorrans after a bid of £700,000 was rejected, but it is still short of the Canaries' £1.5m valuation of the Scotland midfielder. (Daily Express)

David Moyes is said to be wanted by the SFA as Gordon Strachan's potential successor

Scotland right-back Callum Paterson snubbed a move to Rangers in order to sign for Cardiff City at the end of his Hearts contract. (Daily Express, print edition)

Hearts will receive £400,000 and get a sell-on clause as part of Callum Paterson's move to Cardiff City after the 22-year-old right-back left Tynecastle at the end of his contract. (Evening News)

Dundee are considering bringing goalkeeper Kyle Letheren back to Dens Park after the 29-year-old left York City following their relegation from the National League. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Hibernian could have to agree to a 50% sell-on clause with Ashdod if they are to sign on-loan goalkeeper Ofir Marciano on a permanent deal because they are unable to afford the Israeli club's valuation. (Scottish Sun)

Scotland will have to overcome a £151m transfer fee chasm when they face their more valuable English opponents in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Hampden. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Scotland beating England at Hampden in Saturday's World Cup qualifier would be their most significant result since a draw against Wales in Cardiff in 1985 ensured qualification for the Mexico finals, according to assistant Mark McGhee. (The Scotsman)

Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur remembers celebrating Don Hutchinson's winner for Scotland over England as a 12-year-old and hopes to emulate that in Saturday's World Cup qualifier. (The Herald)

Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney, who is poised to play for Scotland against England on Saturday despite a facial injury, has been compared to former England defender Stuart "Psycho" Pearce by assistant manager Mark McGhee. (The Scotsman)

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling expects club-mate Marcus Rashford to shatter Scotland's defence when the pair team up for England in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Hampden. (Daily Mail)

Daniel Candeias is quoted as saying he is open to a transfer from Benfica to Rangers

Owen Coyle, who signed Charlie Mulgrew when Blackburn Rovers manager, says the Scotland defender is good enough to be playing in England's Premier League despite his club being relegated to League One. (Scottish Sun)

Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has admitted that Uefa's willingness to sanction Irish and Welsh teams taking part in the Scottish Challenge Cup could open the door for Celtic and Rangers to play in England. (Scottish Sun)

A figure like businessman Craig Whyte, whose tenure at Rangers led Rangers into financial meltdown, will never be allowed to enter Scottish football again, Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has vowed. (Daily Record)

Glasgow is no longer in the running to host the 2019 Europa League final, with Baku, Istanbul and Seville now the shortlist of three. (The Scotsman, print edition)

Celtic will create up to 120 jobs with their proposed hotel and museum complex if their plan to redevelop the area around Celtic Park receives approval. (The Scotsman)

Nottingham Forest defender Alex Iacovitti has urged his Scotland Under-20 team-mates not to let the group section win over Brazil be their highlight of the Toulon Tournament as they prepare to face England in Thursday's semi-final. (The Scotsman)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andy Murray feels like the odd one out among the four French Open semi-finalists as he has been playing "garbage" and is the only one to have lost a set so far in the tournament. (Daily Record)

Scotland and Italy face each other on Thursday in the third and final Pool B match of World Rugby's under-20 Championship knowing that a bonus point victory could propel the winners of this game into the semi-finals of the tournament. (The Herald)