Craig continues our Scottish Premiership coverage with a recap of one hell of a crap transfer window.
Nobody in the SPL will really notice the transfer window slamming shut because the teams have barely made a move in the window. The major deal came on Tuesday night with Rangers announcing the signing of Hibs midfielder Kevin Thomson for £2 million. This move comes as a shock, not because Thomson wasn’t expected to move, but rather that he will now be separated from best mate Scott Brown – as any move was expected to be for the pair.
By the time you read this, Rangers may also have signed Alan Gow – although a move at the moment looks unlikely because Rangers think they can get one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football for £125k, while Falkirk are looking for £500k. Rangers are widely expected to sign Gow on a pre-contract however, if a permanent move doesn’t go through.
The case of Hartley is a strange one – because Hearts appear to be using the twisted logic that selling all their best players is the best way to go about securing 2nd place in the SPL this season. Scotland keeper Craig Gordon feels he is being forced out of the club, against his wishes – and therefore may move before the window shuts. Hearts accepted an offer from an un-named Russian club for Gordon but the 24 year-old does not want to move to Eastern Europe, especially with so much Premiership interest. It is still widely believed that Arsenal will be his destination in the summer, though Bayern Munich have also reportedly made a £6 million bid which must be close to Hearts’ valuation.
Aston Villa took our advice and signed injury-prone forward Shaun Maloney pre-contract deal from Celtic, and the two clubs may arrange a fee which allows the 24 year-old to move before the window shuts. And Paul Hartley is likely to join Celtic for a fee “in excess of £1m†after Gordon Strachan managed to out-bid Rangers.
The case of Hartley is a strange one – because Hearts appear to be using the twisted logic that selling all their best players is the best way to go about securing 2nd place in the SPL this season. Scotland keeper Craig Gordon feels he is being forced out of the club, against his wishes – and therefore may move before the window shuts. Hearts accepted an offer from an un-named Russian club for Gordon but the 24 year-old does not want to move to Eastern Europe, especially with so much Premiership interest. It is still widely believed that Arsenal will be his destination in the summer, though Bayern Munich have also reportedly made a £6 million bid which must be close to Hearts’ valuation.
Other notable moves include Hibs’ capture of Clayton Donaldson on a pre-contract agreement from Conference side York City. St Mirren signed Stephen O’Donnell and Eddie Malone from 1st Division Clyde and Motherwell have signed 21 year-old Hungarian Krisztian Vadocz on loan from Auxerre.