Scottish Gossip: McLean, Rangers, Celtic, Griffiths, Anderson

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rangers have made their move to sign Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean, who is entering the final year of his Pittodrie contract. (Herald - subscription required)

But Birmingham City are also keen on 25-year-old Scotland cap McLean. (Daily Record)

McLean joined the Dons from St Mirren in 2015

Celtic will play twice in 22 hours if their proposed 14 July meeting with Linfield goes ahead. Should Linfield reach the Champions League second qualifying round, the first leg in Northern Ireland will take place the day before Celtic's home friendly against Lyon. (Sun)

Leigh Griffiths has no fears about facing the Linfield crowd in Belfast should the game come to pass. "I go to Tynecastle - that's worse," said the Celtic and former Hibernian forward of trips to face Hearts. (Daily Record)

Meanwhile, Griffiths insists "the gulf couldn't be any bigger" between his side and Rangers. (National)

And Griffiths, 27, does not want to play "second fiddle" in the Celtic attack in the coming season, having been kept out of the side by Moussa Dembele for large parts of last term. (Scotsman)

New Hibernian forward Simon Murray is eager to emulate and eclipse his father Gary's scoring exploits for the Easter Road club after joining from Dundee United. (Scotsman)

Former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae believes Ibrox manager Pedro Caixinha is taking a gamble by signing so many foreign players - seven so far - this summer. (Herald - subscription required)

Rangers could make up to £5m this season from the sale of their replica kits after renegotiating their merchandising deal with Sports Direct, according to Dr Peter Rohlmann, an expert on football shirt sales. (Herald - subscription required)

The first Edinburgh derby of the season will be on Wednesday 25 October

Hearts owner Ann Budge is upset with the Scottish Professional Football League after the first two Edinburgh derbies in the 2017-18 Premiership fixture list were scheduled for midweek evenings rather than weekends. (Daily Record)

St Johnstone's Steven Anderson is awaiting the results of a scan on a knee injury picked up in a closed-doors bounce game against Rangers, with fellow defenders Brian Easton and Keith Watson also doubtful for Thursday's Europa League meeting with Lithuanians Trakai. (Herald - subscription required)

Former Celtic youth Michael McGlinchey is relishing the prospect of facing Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in New Zealand's next Confederations Cup match and could come up against Argentina's Lionel Messi in November's World Cup play-off. (Daily Record)