Rangers near Makhanya deal as Hogh passes Celtic medical - gossip

What the report says

BBC Sport Football’s Scottish football gossip roundup says both Old Firm clubs are moving closer to possible new additions, citing reports from other outlets. Rangers are reported to be pursuing Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya, a 22-year-old South Africa player, with the suggested fee varying between about £3m and £5m depending on the source referenced by the BBC.

The roundup also says Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande, 24, wants to remain involved under new manager Derek McInnes despite more competition for places. BBC Sport attributes that to the Scotsman, while also citing the Daily Record on Diomande’s preference for playing alongside new signing Cammy Devlin, the former Hearts midfielder, rather than facing him as an opponent.

On the Celtic side, BBC Sport cites the Sun in reporting that Bodo/Glimt forward Kasper Hogh, a 25-year-old Denmark player, completed a medical in London on Monday evening and is close to being confirmed as a signing. The article also references the Daily Record’s report that former Celtic player Vidar Riseth believes Hogh’s value is significantly higher than the reported £11m fee Celtic are expected to pay.

The roundup includes an officiating development as well: VAR in Scotland is expected to gain the ability to intervene on wrongly issued second yellow cards, reflecting rules used at the recent World Cup. If implemented, that would expand review powers in a narrow but potentially important area, because second cautions lead to dismissals and can strongly affect matches.