'Hearts make fresh Shankland bid' - Friday's gossip

Heart of Midlothian intend to hold fresh talks with captain Lawrence Shankland to determine whether the 29-year-old Scotland striker could still be persuaded to stay at Tynecastle Park beyond the end of his contract this summer. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Celtic centre-half Gustaf Lagerbielke has hinted he wants to turn his loan move to Twente Enschede into a permanent one after the 24-year-old revealed he barely has any contact with his parent club. (Scottish Sun), external

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has not given up hope of making one last addition of a striker to his squad, with Scandinavia the likeliest area where a free agent might emerge. (The Courier), external

Arsenal and St Johnstone have agreed a deal for 15-year-old Callan Hamill and the Perth club will bank an initial six-figure fee for the Scotland youth full-back, with realistic add-ons and sell-ons likely to swell that transfer fee significantly. (The Courier), external

Everton are in advanced talks to appoint Brighton & Hove Albion's David Weir as their new sporting director, with Toffees manager David Moyes pushing hard for the return to Goodison Park of his former captain. (Football Insider), external

Partick Thistle captain Brian Graham has revealed that he had approaches to manage other clubs before being appointed caretaker at Firhill while continuing to play and manage the women's team, but the 37-year-old striker refuses to say whether or not he wants the job permanently. (The Herald), external

The 49ers Enterprise's takeover of Rangers should be signed and sealed in a matter of weeks and long before the end of this season. (Daily Record), external

Scottish FA rules on multi-club ownership would be no barrier to a potential takeover of Rangers by 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, or even the potential for their president Paraag Marathe to take a seat on the Ibrox board, as dual ownership involving the Leeds United chairman would "not impact on the integrity of the competition" in this country. (The National), external

Former Rangers chairman and major shareholder Dave King is close to agreeing a deal to sell his shares to the US consortium bidding to take over the Scottish Premiership club. (Daily Record), external

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, a key player in the US bid to take over Rangers, accepted a VIP invite to join the Ibrox club board at Old Trafford for January's Europa League game with Manchester United. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers are likely to be valuing the club at around £150m as Ibrox takeover talks are advancing. (Football Insider), external

Rangers consultant Mike Forde has close links with would-be Ibrox investor Paraag Marathe, having recommended investing in Leeds United back in 2018. (Scottish Sun), external