The transfer window is open and all eyes are on the top three in the Scottish Premiership as they gear up for a thrilling title battle. Here are today’s developments from Daily Mail Sport PLUS the latest Scottish sports news…
RANGERS TARGET 22-YEAR-OLD GERMAN STRIKER
Rangers are interested in Hansa Rostock striker Ryan Naderi as Danny Rohl looks to strengthen his squad for the title run-in.
Sky Sports in Germany report that ‘talks between the clubs are ongoing, and Naderi is hoping an agreement can be reached’.
Naderi, 22, has scored eight goals in 17 appearances this season for the club in German football’s third tier – and it is thought a bid of around £2million would secure his services.
Rangers are interested in Ryan Naderi of Hansa Rostock, who play in Germany’s third tier
WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LET IT SLIP AGAIN, SAYS TAVERNIER
James Tavernier says there will be no let-up at Rangers after they closed the gap on Premiership leaders Hearts to four points with a 3-0 win over Dundee.
The Ibrox skipper scored his 100th league goal for the Light Blues with a penalty just after the interval before substitutes Danilo and Djeidi Gassama struck in added time to seal an eighth successive win in all competitions.
‘It was obviously early days in the league and it’s a long season,’ said Tavernier.
‘You’ve always got to back yourselves no matter what, doing that by winning games.
‘I said earlier in the season that we have to have that consistency and I believe we’ve started that and really shown our potential and it just has to continue.
‘We’ve been in this position before in January where we’ve been ahead and then let it slip, so we can’t afford that.
‘It’s my responsibility and the senior lads to keep everyone on their toes and really focus on what we need to do.
‘If we keep doing what we’ve been showing, there’s every chance of that (winning the league), but it has to be consistent, we have to keep doing it week in, week out.’
Islam Chesnokov is being put through a ‘mini pre-season’ to get him fit enough to help Hearts’ title challenge
McINNES TRYING TO GET CHESNOKOV UP TO SPEED
Hearts boss Derek McInnes revealed Islam Chesnokov is being put through a ‘mini pre-season’ in an effort to get the recent recruit up to speed for the remainder of the season.
The Kazakhstan winger arrived in Edinburgh earlier this month having not played since representing his country in mid-November, with his last match for his previous club Tobol in October.
Chesnokov was a substitute for three Hearts matches but looked rusty after coming on for his debut against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup.
The 26-year-old was not included in the squad for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celtic and manager McInnes said: ‘We probably underestimated him being able to pick up the speed of the game and the fitness of where he was at after maybe six or seven weeks without training.
‘We’ve made a concerted effort with him and he decision was made that we would put him through a little mini pre-season for the next two weeks.
‘He’s been doing extra training just to try and get him able to cope with the speed of the game because obviously it’s different from Kazakhstan.
‘With the intensity of the Scottish game, we’ve got to be understanding that maybe (he needs) more training, more awareness of what’s required.’
A coroner ruled on Gordon McQueen’s death that heading a football was ‘likely’ a factor
HEADING A FOOTBALL A ‘LIKELY’ FACTOR IN McQUEEN’S DEATH
Heading a football ‘likely’ contributed to the brain injury which was a factor in the death of former Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, a coroner has found.
McQueen – who was capped for Scotland 30 times between 1974 and 1981, and played for both Manchester United and Leeds during a 16-year career – died at his home in North Yorkshire in June 2023, aged 70.
The cause of death was pneumonia as he had become frail and bed-bound for months, the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, heard earlier this month.
That frailty was due to a combination of vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), coroner Jon Heath said.
The coroner gave a narrative conclusion on Monday, finding that McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and CTE.
He said: ‘It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.’
McQueen’s TV presenter daughter Hayley McQueen was in court to hear the findings.
SCOTS TO FACE IVORY COAST AT EVERTON’S STADIUM
Scotland will face Ivory Coast in a World Cup warm-up match at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The match will take place on March 31, three days after a clash against Japan at Hampden, and is the latest friendly to be announced as preparations for this summer’s tournament continue.
Ahead of their opening game against Haiti at the World Cup, Scotland will host Curacao at Hampden on May 30 while an additional overseas fixture is set to be finalised.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke said: ‘We’re pleased to confirm Cote d’Ivoire as our second opponents for the March international window, following on from Japan’s visit to Glasgow.
‘We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer, and I’m sure Cote d’Ivoire will give us a really stern test.
‘It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The supporters will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium.’
