Scotland Men's Football Team

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Club captain Tom Cairney has signed a new deal until summer 2026 at Fulham.

The 34-year-old Scotland cap surpassed 350 appearances for the Whites last season and will embark on his 11th campaign at Craven Cottage.

He told club media:, external "I'm happy to sign for another year at this amazing football club. I'm delighted. It feels brilliant. It feels right. It's always been home.

"I've fully enjoyed the past three years in the Premier League, contributing on and off the pitch, and I just want to help take this club as far as I can. I'll always try to do that."

Tony Khan, Fulham vice-chairman and director of football operations, added: "A leader on and off the pitch, Tom has been present at so many pivotal moments over the past decade, enjoying play-off promotions, scoring vital - sometimes spectacular - goals, and helping to cement our position in the Premier League.

"He is a great person who the fans, his team-mates and all those associated with Fulham love."

Nottingham Forest have registered their interest in Liverpool winger Ben Doak as they look to replace Anthony Elanga, who was sold to Newcastle United for £55m, but Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, PSV Eindhoven and clubs in Spain are also monitoring the Scotland 19-year-old's availability. (Daily Express), external

With Aston Villa joining the race for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, they may reconsider the future of John McGinn after rebuffing an approach from Everton for the 30-year-old Scotland international. (Football Insider), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Trabzonspor are seriously interested in 28-year-old Rangers and Scotland centre-back John Souttar. (Ajansspor), external

Dinamo Zagreb have agreed a four-year contract with Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna, who is scheduled for his medical examination on Tuesday after the 28-year-old left Las Palmas on freedom of contract. (Sportske Novosti via Croatian Football), external

Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong could make a surprise return to Sheffield Wednesday after the 33-year-old was initially released by the financially troubled Championship club. (The Herald), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Angus Gunn is in talks with Saudi Pro League club Al-Khaleej after the Scotland goalkeeper's release by Norwich City, while Everton have also been linked with the 29-year-old. (Al-Youm via Daily Record, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liverpool are willing to offer 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as part of a deal for Crystal Palace's 24-year-old England defender, Marc Guehi. (Sun), external

Lawrence Shankland has interest from clubs in England and Saudi Arabia, but Heart of Midlothian retain a line of communication with the out-of-contract Scotland striker while determined not to increase their offer, which would make the 29-year-old their highest-paid player. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Former Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has signed for semi-professional Stirling Macedonia Lions in the second-tier National Premier Leagues Western Australia after the 34-year-old ended three years with third tier Mandurah City. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is in talks to take over as the club's Under-18 coach.

Previous U18s coach Adam Lawrence left United at the end of the season, part of a major summer upheaval at youth level that also includes academy chief Nick Cox taking a job at Everton as technical director.

United feel former Scotland international Fletcher, 41, will provide continuity as the search for Cox's successor continues.

Fletcher initially returned to Old Trafford in a non-playing role during Ed Woodward's time as chief executive.

He was appointed as technical director in 2021 but moved roles following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival as minority shareholder, when Jason Wilcox took the job after leaving Southampton.

He was a first-team coach under Erik ten Hag and, in more recent times, has been a link between the first-team and academy and travelled to Malaysia and Hong Kong at the end of the season, when a number of young players were selected.

Fletcher has long-term management ambitions of his own and this would be a positive first step.

He has previously been reluctant to take on an academy role as his twin sons Tyler and Jack were both excelling as players.

However, they have now moved out of the Under-18 age group, which leaves Fletcher to take the job if he wants.

It is understood he will work closely with Travis Binnion, United's Under-21 lead coach.

Max Johnston could join fellow Scotland internationals Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour at Napoli, with the Serie A champions "observing" the Strum Graz right-back. (Transfermarkt), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Ross Doohan has backed himself to get enough game time at Celtic to become "a mainstay" in the Scotland squad.

After being handed a surprise international debut against Liechtenstein earlier this month amid a goalkeeping crisis within Steve Clarke's squad, the 27-year-old sealed a return to his boyhood club on a three-year deal last week.

Doohan, who spent most of the past two seasons as number two at Aberdeen after leaving Parkhead to join Tranmere in 2022, is expected to start off as third choice at Celtic behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

"It's obviously going to be difficult," he said when asked about the battle to get game time with the Scottish champions. "There are two top goalkeepers at the club already and I'm buzzing to be working with them.

"I'm just looking to work as hard as I can and put my face out there. I'm hoping to push myself into the team. I know it'll be hard, but I back myself."

Doohan said he had enjoyed "a surreal couple of weeks" after landing his return to Celtic so soon after his unexpected international debut.

The keeper, who cut a summer holiday short to join up with Clarke's Scotland squad, is confident his big move can aid his quest to add to his solitary cap.

"If I get a call-up again I'm hoping I'd impress and hopefully end up a mainstay in the squad," Doohan added.

"Obviously I'm moving to one of the biggest clubs in the world and the biggest club in Scotland, so that's always going to put you in good stead.

"I just need to push myself at Celtic, hopefully get some game time and then take it from there."

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Everton are keeping tabs on Ben Doak with the 19-year-old Scotland winger having returned to training following injury, but none have been prepared to meet Liverpool's £25m valuation. (Mail), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Kevin Nisbet, who was on loan to Aberdeen from Millwall last season, is not a target for Heart of Midlothian, with head coach Derek McInnes hopeful of convincing fellow Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland to stay at Tynecastle Park. (Hearts Standard), external

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal made an enquiry for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, but the Italian champions did not even discuss a deal as they have no intention of selling the 28-year-old Scotland international. (Football Italia), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Celtic are set to step up their efforts to sign Scotland midfielder Andy Irving, with West Ham United prepared to sell the 25-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Scotland's World Cup qualifier away to Belarus on 8 September will be played behind closed doors in Hungary.

The match will take place at the ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg.

Recent competitive Belarus home games, including fixtures in the most recent edition of the Nations League, have been played at ZTE Arena without supporters because of the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

Belarus v Scotland will take place three days after the Scots open their Group C campaign away to Denmark and Steve Clarke's side will also face Greece during the autumn.

Scotland centre-half Ryan Porteous is keen on exploring a permanent exit from Watford and the 26-year-old could head for Major League Soccer this summer but also has suitors both in the Championship and Scotland. (Mirror), external

Real Madrid were the first club to be approached by Andy Robertson's agent but rejected the opportunity to make an approach to Liverpool for the 31-year-old Scotland captain. (Defensa Central), external

Atletico Madrid are also considering Aston Villa's Lucas Digne as an option at left-back if they fail to secure Robertson, with the Spanish club only wanting to pay a small fee or get the left-back on a free transfer. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Celtic would consider a move for Robertson, who would be interested in joining his boyhood club, but only if he becomes available for free or at a nominal fee covering the remainder of his contract, as matching his current wages or paying a significant transfer fee is beyond the Scottish champions' reach. (TeamTalk), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Atletico Madrid hope Liverpool will allow Andy Robertson to leave for free or a small fee as the long-serving 31-year-old Scotland captain wishes to leave the English champions. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Atletico are prepared to pay around £20m for Robertson and have opened talks with Liverpool, who will not stand in the way of the left-back. (The Boot Room), external

League One champions Birmingham City are looking to outbid Championship rivals Hull City and Swansea City in the race for 29-year-old Scotland striker Oli McBurnie, currently with Las Palmas. (Alan Nixon on Patreon), external

Promoted Wrexham are considering deals for former Scotland midfielders Stuart Armstrong, 33, and Barry Bannan, 35, who have both left Sheffield Wednesday. (Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Andy Robertson should "take the opportunity" to move to Atletico Madrid, according to former Scotland keeper Cammy Bell.

The Liverpool left-back has been linked with a move to the Spanish capital as the Reds appear to close in on Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez.

"If he isn't going to play as much football next season, I hope the opportunity is there and he takes it," Bell told Sportsound.

"The level is very competitive. The Spanish league is a brilliant league to play in and Andy Robertson is still in his prime.

"He's still got a lot to give, he said that himself. He's far too good a player not to play."

Speaking after the Liechtenstein victory in Vaduz, the Scotland captain confirmed that he wasn't entirely sure where his future lies.

"I've got loads more to achieve," he told BBC Scotland. "I'm 31, didn't miss a game this season or a training session. That's something I'm happy with, after last season with my shoulder and ankle injury.

"This season I've been available for every single game. I've got a year left at Liverpool and I don't know what the future will hold after that. I still believe I've got a lot to give. I've shown that in performances this season."

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"The only good thing is it came in a friendly match."

Those were the words of head coach Steve Clarke when he talked about Cieran Slicker's nightmare debut for Scotland, as the 22-year-old made a few costly errors in the recent loss to Iceland.

He may have been talking about the mistakes, but he could also have been referring to the dazzling spotlight on the goalkeeping crisis in the country.

"What we've had for years is three top-quality goalkeepers," former Scotland keeper Cammy Bell told Sportsound. "Elite level in [David] Marshall, [Allan] McGregor and Craig Gordon.

"We've been spoiled in that department. If one was injured, we had another who could step in at the exact same level.

"Now, we've got a massive drop-off."

There is some debate around who Clarke's first-choice would be if all options were fit. Would it be Hearts' legendary shot-stopper Gordon, or the currently unattached Gunn?

"Craig Gordon, for me, is 100% the number one for Scotland at this moment in time," Bell added. "He's 42 years-old and he will be retiring soon. Where do we go after that?

"Angus Gunn is the one that Scotland fans are unsure about. He's done okay when he's played but he's had a few injures. When he gets injured, where do we go?"

Clarke took Zander Clark and Liam Kelly to the Euros last summer ahead of Gordon, who has now ambitiously aimed for the 2026 World Cup next summer, should Scotland qualify. But what about after that?

"It's difficult," Bell said. "Zander Clark isn't playing at Hearts at the moment, he's 32-years-old. Robby McCrorie couldn't hold down the number one spot at Kilmarnock. He's not played a lot of football.

"Liam Kelly got a few games towards the end of the season, but looks as if he's probably number two at Rangers and won't play a lot of football.

"Ross Doohan came in, did a good job. Made his debut, kept a clean sheet. Looks as if he's going to join Celtic as a number two, possibly a number three.

"Scott Bain might come back into the frame because he's joined Falkirk to get some more football. But he's 33, not that young either.

"There is huge question marks. There's no getting away from it. We have a massive issue in the goalkeeping department."