STEVEN Gerrard has admitted that any more signings made this month could depend on players leaving Ibrox. Rangers have signed Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe already in January, and agreed pre-contract deals with Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones and Dundee's Glen Kamara. Gerrard said: "Without mentioning any names, there will possibly be players moving on and that will dictate whether we add anyone else to the squad."
And Gerrard has warned that followers of Scottish football should write off new signing Jermain Defoe at their peril and insisted that the 36-year-old is hungry for silverware. Gerrard said: "He hasn’t played much in the last couple of years and he has a shape to die for in terms of how he looks after himself. He does everything to the letter so don’t be surprised."
Hibernian have made a move to sign Celtic's Lewis Morgan on loan until the end of the season. Manager Neil Lennon is also trying to complete a move for ex-Dundee United player Ryan Gauld after Martin Boyle was sidelined with injury. Speaking of Gauld, Lennon said: "We’re going to need another attacking player in with pace. That’s a must because we’ve lacked pace this season with Boyle being in and out and Brandon Barker leaving."
And Lennon says that Scottish football risks "being dragged into the gutter" by the recent death threats made against referee John Beaton. "It's happening far too often and it's very, very distressing, not only for the individual but his loved ones and friends," Lennon said. "It's just totally out of order."
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has echoed Lennon's sentiments in defending Beaton and said referees deserve to be treated better. Gerrard said: "It’s a very difficult job out there, especially in the heat of an Old Firm. But we’ve got a duty of care to respect referees and appreciate the job they do."
New Celtic signing Oliver Burke has revealed that he had a Celtic kit as a child that he never took off. “I wasn’t a supporter, I just loved the kit," Burke said. "It was great. Someone on the Scottish side of the family got me one and I never took it off."
Motherwell have signed Nottingham Forest attacker Gboly Ariyibi on loan until the end of the season, their second signing of the January window after Ross McCormack rejoined the club. “I am delighted to join and I can’t wait to get started,” Ariyibi told the club website.
Neil Lennon says that there is no reason that players can't play three matches a week. Describing the difference in mindset in modern players to his own generation, Lennon said: "In the main I think it gets into the players’ mentality that they need a rest. We never had that! It was 60 games a season."
Partick Thistle's Craig Slater has underlined the importance of this Saturday's relegation six-pointer against Falkirk. “We need to stick together to pull through it and get results," Slater insisted. "It’s not nice, but the harsh reality is that it’s a massive time for the club and everyone has to stand up and be counted.”
The Herald's Matthew Lindsay believes that Celtic and Rangers' January transfer business could be what ultimately settles this year's Premiership title race.
Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove says he is aiming to lift the Scottish Cup with his side this season after agreeing a contract extension until 2022, according to the Press and Journal. "The Scottish Cup is massive," Cosgrove said. "You saw the backing in the League Cup, it’s a big day out for the fans, and the Scottish Cup is something we thrive on massively.”
The Scottish Sun are reporting that Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic could miss upcoming matches for Australia after picking up a hand injury during his national side's shock 1-0 defeat to Jordan in the Asian Cup on Sunday.
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