Celtic target will cost £7m, Rangers to beat Arsenal for wonderkid, Hibs urged to re-sign ex-player

Rangers beat Arsenal for wonderkid

According to a rumor, Rangers has rebuffed Arsenal’s desire in persuading a highly-regarded young player to sign his first professional contract with the team. Prior to now, the Gunners were thought to be the front-runners to sign 15-year-old attacking midfielder Alexander Smith, who has been making an impression at the Rangers development club. Smith, who was born in the United States, played for the USA Under-15 team before joining the Scotland Under-16 squad, with which he has earned eight caps and one goal. Rangers have already lost players like Billy Gilmour and Rory Wilson because EPL teams have the ability to sign their best young players before they even make the first team. According to reports in February, Smith was close to signing a contract with Arsenal, who were willing to pay a six-figure compensation fee to get the adolescent. It seemed as though the same scenario would play out again. The Athletic claims that Smith has changed his mind, though, and that the Rangers are now inching closer to an agreement that would see him sign his first professional contract with the Ibrox team.

Advice to Hibs to re-sign former player

Alex Gogic was a bad signing for Hibs, and they ought to strive to get him back from St Mirren. As the Buddies get closer to securing European football next season, that is the opinion of former Hibs forward turned pundit Tam McManus, who feels the Cyprus international should never have been let to leave Easter Road following a fantastic season in Paisley. Hibs’ defensive shortcomings, particularly the surrender of late goals, have frequently proved to be their undoing as Nick Montgomery’s team has been unable to finish in the top six. According to McManus, Gogic’s return would help stabilize the back. He stated in an interview with the Daily Record: “I would be traveling to St. Mirren and making every effort to lure Alex Gogic back to Leith. The large man, whose contract expires this summer, has been indispensable to the Buddies as they get closer to a European position. Under Stephen Robinson, he has seized control of the back three’s central position. My brother-in-law owns a season ticket for St. Mirren and ranks Gogic among the all-time great Saints players. That is his level of love for him. Giving him a return to Easter Road would be a terrible thing for Hibs to undertake. Despite being a midfielder at the time, he was a member of Jack Ross’s team that came in third place. He is a tough, honest, and agile defender who poses a danger when he is in the opposition box. His birthday was last month, so he’s also a nice age. With Gogic, you know precisely what you’re getting, which is not something you can say about Hibs’ center of defense this year.”

Hearts ready for sale Shankland

Hearts are ready to let go of captain Lawrence Shankland this summer at the right price, even before their top scorer enters the last year of his deal. The Edinburgh Evening News claims that the Tynecastle club is aware of interest in the player, who has scored 29 goals in 48 games for the team and country this season, from Scotland, England, and outside. Hearts will try to avoid a scenario similar to that of Josh Ginnelly from the previous season, when the winger joined Swansea City on a free transfer after running out his contract. Hearts are reportedly not prepared to drastically reduce the £5 million asking price they established during the January transfer window for the recently named PFA Scotland Player of the Year. As of yet, no formal approaches have been made for the 28-year-old, who will likely play for Scotland at Euro 2024 this summer.

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