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…
HIBS HAVE OFFERS FOR BOWIE BUT WON’T RULE HIM OUT OF RANGERS MATCH
David Gray confirmed Hibernian have received offers for Kieron Bowie but the manager is not ruling out the possibility of the in-demand striker being involved in Sunday’s Premiership match at home to Rangers.
The 23-year-old Scotland forward has been the subject of at least one bid from Hellas Verona, understood to be in the region of £6million, while Celtic, Rangers, Wolves and a number of European clubs have also been linked.
‘There has been a lot of interest,’ said manager Gray at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. ‘With the window being open, there’s speculation around Kieron. There have been a few bids. At this moment in time, that’s all I’ve really got on it.
‘I’ve just walked past him, he was playing darts a minute ago. He trained this morning. He’s not trained as if he’s got one eye anywhere else.
‘And until anything changes – and that can happen at any time with the window being open – or anyone tells me otherwise, then he’ll be available for this weekend.’
Bowie, who joined from Fulham for £600,000 18 months ago, has scored nine goals this term. While Gray has no desire to lose a key player, he stressed that if he does move on before the window closes on Monday, the Easter Road club will be ready to bring in reinforcements.
Hibs boss David Gray confirmed that offers are coming in for hot property Bowie, above
Manager Gray believes Bowie could still play against Rangers on Sunday despite interest
‘I can’t look at it from a selfish point of view at all, for what helps David Gray, not at all,’ said the manager. ‘It’s what’s right for Hibernian.
‘If Kieron was to move on, and it was right for everybody involved, it’s about how you react from that.
‘That’s the beauty of the window. We are working hard, making sure that if we did lose someone like Kieron, then we can try and bring in a replacement.”
Hibs announced their first signing of the window on Thursday as 19-year-old Irish striker Owen Elding joined from Sligo Rovers on a contract until the summer of 2030.
‘I think his record speaks for itself, he’s such a young boy but he’s played a lot of men’s football already at a good level and scored a variety of goals,’ said Gray.
‘He’s a really exciting one for the football club. In terms of the expectation, you don’t want to put too much pressure on him, he’s only 19, but I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to getting involved as quick as he can.’
Regardless of what happens with Bowie, Gray does not expect Elding to be the only new arrival this month.
‘Ideally, as a manager, you’d want that (new arrivals) on day one but it never happens like that,’ said the manager. ‘The domino effect always happens towards the end of the window.
‘I’d like to add to the squad if we can, and if we think that the right people can come in to make us better. I do think there will be movement and we’ll certainly be continuing to work hard right to the very end.’
New forward Rogers Mato announces his arrival for Hearts at Tynecastle
HEARTS FINALLY GET THEIR MAN AS MATO ARRIVES
Hearts have confirmed the long-awaited arrival of Rogers Mato.
The Ugandan forward joins on an initial loan deal from North Macedonian side FK Vardar until the end of the season, subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval.
At the end of the season, upon the expiry of his contract with Vardar, Rogers’ permanent three-year contract with Hearts will begin.
The 22-year-old has 41 caps and has scored eight times for his country, including a recent strike at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
He arrives in Edinburgh off the back of an impressive season in the Balkans, having scored 12 goals in 13 games for Vardar, sending them top of their domestic league.
Hearts boss Derek McInnes said: ‘It’s great work from the club to get Rogers in during this window and I’m really pleased that he’s here and ready to go.
‘He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems.
‘He’s been in to meet the boys and has made a good first impression, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.’
Striker Kusini Yengi has been allowed to leave Aberdeen for Cerezo Osaka in Japan
DONS ALLOW YENGI TO MOVE TO JAPAN ON LOAN
Aberdeen striker Kusini Yengi has joined Japanese side Cerezo Osaka on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 27-year-old Australian joined the Dons last summer following two years with Portsmouth but has struggled to establish himself at Pittodrie.
Yengi, who is contracted to the Reds until the summer of 2028, scored once in 10 appearances in the first half of the season but has not featured in the Premiership since September, with his last outing coming as a substitute in the Conference League defeat by Strasbourg on December 11.
Yengi follows his brother Tete in leaving the Scottish top flight this week to move to Japan after the 25-year-old joined Machida Zelvia on loan from Livingston.
COUNTY STRIKER HALE JOINS GILLINGHAM
Ross County have sold prolific striker Ronan Hale to Gillingham for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old Northern Irishman joined the Staggies from Cliftonville 18 months ago and scored 30 goals in 68 appearances.
‘We would like to place on record our thanks to Ronan for his efforts and contribution at Ross County,’ read a club statement.
‘Everyone at the club wishes Ronan all the very best in the next stage of his career.’
LIVI VETERAN CAREY MAKES DUNFERMLINE SWITCH
Livingston midfielder Graham Carey has joined Championship side Dunfermline on loan until the end of the season.
The 36-year-old joined the Lions in the summer following his departure from St Johnstone but he has made only 11 appearances and has not played for David Martindale’s side since November 30.
The Livi boss, meanwhile, is waiting to learn if midfielder Mohamadou Susoho will be recalled from his season-long loan by parent club Manchester City, with other clubs interested.
‘I’ve got no control over that whatsoever,’ said Martindale. ‘If he does go, it’ll be a wee bit of a blow, but if we manage to keep him by the window, I’d be delighted with that one.’
MOTHEREWELL BOSS ASKOU ADMITS HIS HIGH DEMANDS MAKE RECRUITMENT DIFFICULT
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admits his specific demands make January recruitment challenging.
The Dane remains on the hunt for potential additions, with Celtic defender Stephen Welsh a priority, but he needs players to be able to adapt quickly to his style of play.
Sole January signing Norwegian striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson delivered a debut assist in last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Kilmarnock, which made it six straight home wins and nine consecutive clean sheets at Fir Park.
Askou, whose team travel to Livingston on Saturday, said: ‘We are spending every minute to see if we can just get the last bit of quality and competition to carry us through.
‘Which means we haven’t decided not to do any more business. But we need to make sure that, if we do something, it’s the right fit for us.
‘Because it’s very specific what we do, and it takes a little bit of time to get up to speed with what we do and go in and deliver a top performance, the way we play, if you come from a different environment.
‘We have to make sure that the potential to learn fast is there, or to go in straightaway and deliver at the same level of what we already have or even higher.
‘That is difficult for us to identify these players with the budget we are working with. It’s possible, but we need to be really thorough and really patient and sharp.’
Askou is heavily involved in that process along with head of recruitment Nick Daws and his team.
‘My experience is that it will give by far the best outcome for the club and for the player if the manager/head coach is very involved in that process and knows exactly what he is getting, what he needs to develop, where he’s really good,’ he said.
‘It just makes it so much easier from day one to utilise the areas where he’s really good and just add a little bit to get up to speed.
‘It’s also about believing in the character and the player and the more you are committed to that process that happens before he signs, the better.
‘So for me it’s absolutely crucial that I am extremely involved in the process, even though we have really good people to help me with that.’
Motherwell remain hopeful that Welsh will complete a season-long loan despite Celtic recalling him earlier this month.
‘We started to look elsewhere from the day they called him back because we know that there’s a 50 per cent chance that he will come back,’ Askou said.
‘Our centre-back’s job profile is quite specific. So it’s about identifying the right one and it’s not easy for us. The best one we have is Stephen Welsh.
‘The dialogue with Celtic is still good and open. Besides that, it’s a question for Celtic more.’
