The summer transfer window is now roughly two weeks old and the Scottish Premiership is already delivering plenty of drama.
From big money moves to last-minute complications, clubs are jostling to strengthen their squads ahead of the new campaign.
Rangers have been one of the more active sides so far, most notably spending £6 million to bring in a new goalkeeper. The investment underlines their determination to close the gap on their fierce rivals Celtic, who have been unusually quiet in the market up to this point.
The Hoops are yet to make a single signing this summer, getting off to a relatively slow start. However, that is expected to change in the coming weeks once the dust from the international period settles and business across the division accelerates.
In the meantime, here’s the latest round-up of the key transfer stories making headlines around the league.
Celtic Linked With Tottenham Midfielder Alfie Devine
One name that has Celtic fans buzzing is Tottenham Hotspur’s young midfielder Alfie Devine. The Bhoys have been strongly linked with a potential move for the talented player, who spent last season on loan at Preston North End.
According to reports, Celtic coaches actually made the trip to watch Devine in action during his time at Preston. The interest appears genuine and well-informed. However, the situation is somewhat complicated.
Preston triggered a £4.5 million clause to sign Devine permanently at the end of his loan spell, but that deal is yet to be fully formalised and there are growing doubts about whether it will go through.
This uncertainty has left the door open for other clubs — including Celtic — to monitor the situation closely. If the Preston move falls apart, Devine could become available, potentially allowing Celtic to pounce. A successful hijack here would be seen as a real statement of intent from the Parkhead side as they look to catch up in the transfer race.
Rangers Set to Miss Out on Defender Bryan Reynolds
While Celtic are exploring opportunities, Rangers have suffered a significant setback in their own recruitment drive. The Gers had been heavily linked with a move for Westerlo’s Bryan Reynolds throughout the summer, with many expecting the deal to progress.
Unfortunately for Rangers fans, it now appears the ship has sailed. Belgian outlet reports indicate that French club Stade Rennais have made a firm €4.5 million offer for the American defender, and the deal is reportedly very close to being completed. Westerlo stand to make a healthy €1 million profit on the player they signed just three years ago.
Rangers could still make a late attempt to rescue the situation, but time is quickly running out and it looks increasingly likely they will miss out on this target. Losing Reynolds would be a disappointment for manager Philippe Clement’s squad-building plans, especially as they aim to challenge Celtic’s domestic dominance.
St Mirren Secure Goalkeeper Jacob Chapman
In other news, St Mirren have completed their first signing of the summer by bringing in goalkeeper Jacob Chapman from EFL League One side Huddersfield Town.
The 24-year-old shot-stopper has agreed a two-year deal at the SMISA Stadium, with the club holding an option to extend by a further year. Chapman expressed his delight at the move in his first interview with the club’s official website.
“I’m absolutely over the moon to be here,” he said. “As soon as it came up, I knew it was the right move for me for a number of reasons. So yeah, very happy to be here and can’t wait to just get going and meet all the lads properly and get to know everyone and just get cracking really.”
What’s Next?
The transfer window still has a long way to go, and with the international break winding down, we should see a noticeable increase in activity across the Scottish Premiership. Celtic need to kickstart their recruitment to avoid falling behind, while Rangers will be eager to bounce back from the Reynolds setback and add more quality to their squad.
Fans of both Old Firm clubs will be watching closely to see whether Celtic can pull off any clever hijacks or if Rangers can find alternative targets to strengthen their challenge for silverware.