Scottish Gossip: Celtic, Rangers, Alves, Hibernian, Lennon, Archibald

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are weighing up a move for South African defender Rivaldo Coetzee ahead of their Champions League play-off against Astana. Coetzee, 20, is ready to leave homeland club Ajax Cape Town.

Full story: Daily Record

Rangers defender Bruno Alves is loving life in the Scottish Premiership and says West Ham star Jose Fonte told him he would enjoy playing for Rangers. (Various)

Neil Lennon insists he is relishing returning to Ibrox as Hibernian head coach - and says he has missed the "drama, intensity and theatre of it". (Various)

Danny Swanson would love to replicate Ivan Sproule's hat-trick heroics at Ibrox when Hibs lock horns with Rangers this afternoon. Sproule netted three against Rangers in Glasgow 12 years ago and Swanson says: "You say the name Ivan Sproule and the hat-trick is what you remember. I'd love to have half of that at Ibrox!" (Scottish Sun)

Could defender Rivaldo be Celtic-bound?

With Neil Lennon, Anthony Stokes and Efe Ambrose visiting this afternoon, Rangers v Hibs is "as close to an Old Firm game as Rangers could possibly get," according to former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson. (Daily Record)

Ross County striker Alex Schalk aims to take his frustration out on Aberdeen after the Highland outfit missed out on a place in the quarter finals of the Scottish League Cup. (Various)

Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch has tipped Hearts interim head coach Jon Daly to be a success at Tynecastle. "Jon is a winner, he speaks his mind and doesn't shy away from responsibility," says McCulloch. (Daily Record)

Hamilton midfielder Massimo Donati says claiming points from fellow Premiership strugglers this season will be crucial in Accies' top-flight survival bid. (Various)

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald expressed frustration following the defeat by Celtic after his side were denied a late penalty following Nir Bitton's challenge on Miles Storey. "I've watched it back and anywhere else on the pitch it's a foul," says Archibald. (Various)

Confidence is key to Dundee striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui lighting up Scotland's top flight this season, according to Dundee boss Neil McCann. (Daily Express)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says the club could have an additional striker ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Astana - with Moussa Dembele sidelined and Leigh Griffiths struggling with a calf strain. "I will definitely have to look at it a little closer," says Rodgers. (The Herald)

Aberdeen may have missed out on Stevie May's signature if Dons boss Derek McInnes was no longer at Pittodrie, the striker has revealed. (The National)

OTHER GOSSIP

Commonwealth silver medallist Lynsey Sharp will compete in Sunday's 800m final at the World Athletics Championships in London after British Athletics won an appeal against her disqualification. (Various)