Michel-Ange Balikwisha believes Celtic cost him a place in DR Congo’s World Cup squad. The 25-year-old is now on loan at Gent, and he hopes the move can become permanent, according to the Scottish Sun.
Balikwisha says the Scottish champions would not let him join a Major League Soccer club on loan last season. He feels that decision hurt his World Cup chances.
Other names in the gossip
Thelo Aasgaard has said he is happy to have left Rangers for Anderlecht on loan. The 24-year-old Norway midfielder told the Glasgow Times he felt he needed a change, and he thinks the move was right.
Fares Ghedjemis was wanted by both Celtic and Rangers this summer. The 24-year-old Algeria winger chose to stay and extend his deal with newly promoted Frosinone. He told The Herald the club convinced him they have the ambition to become a major side in Italy.
Football Insider reports that Aston Villa are well placed to beat Manchester United to Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay. That would only apply if the 29-year-old Scotland player becomes available.
Scottish Premiership and beyond
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin says he chose to look at other targets when he thought about signing Ruari Paton permanently from Port Vale. Paton had been on loan with United. The 26-year-old striker now plays regularly for St Johnstone, and Goodwin told the Daily Record he is pleased about that.
Shayden Morris says he would have been happy to stay at Aberdeen. He became a fan favourite in his last season at Pittodrie. But the 24-year-old winger told the Daily Record he felt a lack of respect from the club in contract talks. He has since joined Luton Town.
Finlay Neat is on loan at Swedish second-tier club Norrby. The 20-year-old, a former Aberdeen academy player, wants to follow fellow Scot Robbie Ure by making his name with Sirius. Neat has come through an 18-month fight with a fractured spine, the Press & Journal says.
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown has said he turned down the chance to manage Cheltenham Town. They made him an offer only days after he left his job at Fleetwood Town, according to The Warm-up.
Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green has described an unusual idea. He says he hoped to buy Stafford Rangers and rename them Rangers. He would then have moved first-team players to the Northern Premier League club and played a first team in England, with a reserve side kept in Scotland. Keys And Gray Unleashed carried the story.
Source: BBC Sport
