Scotland Men's Football Team

Hoffenheim have made an enquiry to sign 20-year-old Scottish forward Rory Wilson from Aston Villa on a loan deal with a buy option clause of £6m. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

In addition to an official bid from Hoffenheim, a number of clubs in England, Norway and Sweden have made enquiries about Aston Villa's Scotland Under-21 forward, Rory Wilson. (Sky Sports), external

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing 29-year-old Scotland striker Che Adams from Torino. (TalkSport), external

Wolves are currently in talks with Torino over a deal for Scotland striker Che Adams. (Sky Sports), external

Bolton Wanderers are leading the race to sign Wrexham's 28-year-old Scottish forward, Ryan Hardie. (Football Insider), external

Bolton Wanderers are in talks to sign Ryan Hardie on loan, but the Wrexham striker's former club, Plymouth Argyle, are monitoring the situation and are keen for him to return. (Sky Sports), external

Competition is likely to ramp up now Wrexham striker Ryan Hardie is near full fitness, with League One clubs Bolton Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle vying for a loan deal. (Darren Witcoop), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan, 23, reminds former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan of Scott Brown, the former Scotland captain. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Former Scotland defender Russell Martin is among the candidates to take over as Leicester City manager following the sacking of Marti Cifuentes. (Football Insider), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Captain John McGinn could be out for up to two months in a further injury blow to Aston Villa.

The midfielder was forced off early in last week's defeat by Everton with a knee injury.

It means the Scotland international could miss up to nine games as third-placed Villa try to maintain their Premier League title push and Europe League hopes.

"Normally, he is going to be out for some weeks, maybe even one or two months. But I want to wait for the doctor's opinion on it," boss Unai Emery said.

McGinn's injury comes with Boubacar Kamara expected to miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury he suffered in the FA Cup win at Tottenham this month.

Youri Tielemans also came off in Sunday's win at Newcastle leaving Villa with a midfield injury problem.

"It was his ankle. Hopefully not a lot, but we must check him with the doctor and wait. I can't say anything more," Emery added following the victory at St James' Park.

Villa missed out on Conor Gallagher this month after the midfielder opted to join Tottenham from Atletico Madrid for £35m instead.

Tottenham Hotspur have sent an official bid Liverpool for Andy Robertson amid advanced talks to sign the 31-year-old Scotland left back. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Scotland left-back Andy Robertson is keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur from Liverpool, with a potential farewell to Anfield on 28 January. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

The deal being discussed between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for Andy Robertson would be a £5m package. (Sky Sports), external

Scotland left-back Andrew Robertson has an agreement in principle for a contract until 2028, plus the option for 2029, with Tottenham Hotspur amid transfer talks with Liverpool, where his contract ends this summer and will not be extended. (Nico Shira on X), external

Roma have already given the green light for Kostas Tsimikas to return to Liverpool from his loan spell if fellow left-back Robertson joins Tottenham Hotspur. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan is in advanced talks over a move to Millwall, with their Championship rivals having offered the 36-year-old Scotland cap an 18-month contract. (Keith Downie on X), external

Hibernian and Motherwell are poised to miss out on Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan as the veteran holds advanced talks with Millwall. (Daily Record), external

Rory Wilson could leave Aston Villa on loan next week with clubs already in contact over potential deal for the 20-year-old Scottish striker. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell wants talks with Scotland head coach Steve Clarke over his long-term future before the World Cup. (Sky Sports), external

Image source, Getty Images

The quality of Morocco's football again shone through despite the chaos during and following the host nation's defeat by Senegal in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final, according to former Scotland winger Pat Nevin.

He was not the only one to watch in disbelief as Senegal walked off and refused to play when Scotland's World Cup opponents were given a stoppage-time penalty that was then missed by Brahim Diaz when the match resumed.

There was also trouble after the game, even a ruckus in the media room, but now the Afcon hosts will look to heal their bruises this summer in the Americas.

Nevin witnessed first hand Morocco's progress at the last World Cup, where they share a group with Scotland, Brazil and Haiti.

"I was lucky enough to go to all their games in Qatar and they were absolutely fabulous," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"They got all the way to the quarter-finals and deservedly so. Massive outsiders to do that, but watching them play, they are another team who are a joy to watch.

"They are very open, but they have adapted a bit since then.

"They not only have quality players but are getting to the business end of competitions, although this one ended bizarre-like."

Morocco stunned Scotland 3-0 in their final group game the last time the Tartan Army had the chance to witness their team at a World Cup in 1998.

"They are a very good team," Nevin added. "The last time we played them at the World Cup, we were massive favourites and everyone thought we'd beat them with ease, but that's not the case now, absolutely not."

Image source, Getty Images

Hosting the smallest nation to play at the World Cup in Scotland's final home friendly before this summer's finals will still be "a serious build-up game" for the hosts, former winger Pat Nevin insists.

Curacao, who visit on Saturday, 30 May, are ranked 84th in the world - 48 places below Steve Clarke's side - but are only two above Haiti, who are in Scotland's group in the Americas.

"I think the fans will want to give them a rousing send-off," Nevin told BBC Radio Scotland. The fans can treat it like that, but for Stevie Clarke this is a serious build-up game.

"You had to get a team that were like one of the teams in our group.

"Haiti are Concacaf as well and Curacao won their group, Haiti won their group, so you will look at it and say 'if we manage to win that one, it is a good bar'.

"And, if you get three points from the three games, that might be just enough [to qualify for the knock-out stage]. So that's why that's why we've got this game."

Nevin reckons it should be "a good game" against Japan, who 18 places above Scotland in the rankings.

"If you look at their record at World Cups, they have been fantastic," he said.

"They are usually a joy to play against because they are an open and attack-minded side.

"I advise Scotland fans to get along for that one because they have a lot of good players. Definitely a good test."

Nevin points out that Japan "don't mirror Brazil, Haiti or Morocco", but that first friendly on 28 March will be about gathering the squad back together.

"And if you can get any sort of result against a Japanese side with the talent they've got, their players are playing around Europe and at some of the big clubs as well, and they've got real depth in their squad as well," he said.

Henrik Pedersen has told Barry Bannan there is interest from other clubs, but the Sheffield Wednesday manager is hopeful the 36-year-old Scotland capped midfielder will stay with the Championship club this month. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Former Scotland youth forward Robbie Ure has caught the attention of RB Salzburg and Polissya Zhytomyr, with the Ukrainian club having already launched a bid for the 21-year-old, after an impressive debut season with Swedish club Sirius. (The Scotsman), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland international Andy Irving has joined Czech side Sparta Prague on a permanent deal from West Ham United.

The 25-year-old made his Scotland debut against Liechtenstein last summer and has since featured for the Hammers on seven occasions, starting twice in the English Premier League.

Irving broke through at Hearts and had spells at Turkgucu Munchen and Austria Klagenfurt, before making 18 appearances for West Ham in his two-and-a-half years there.

He was in Scotland's squad for the World Cup qualifiers and was an unused substitute as Steve Clarke's side beat Denmark at Hampden.

Sparta finished fourth in the Czech topflight last season, and currently sit second behind arch-rivals Slavia, while also competing in the Conference League.

Motherwell are one of two non-Old Firm clubs in the Scottish Premiership interested in Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan, with Millwall, Preston North End and Stoke City also tracking the 36-year-old still hoping for a Scotland recall for the World Cup. (The Star), external

Ryan Fraser, the 31-year-old Scotland-capped winger, is in Australia to finalise a loan move to Western Sydney Wanderers from Southampton. (Daily Echo), external

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he will ditch Scotland's World Cup opponents' famous all-out attacking style and turn them into a defensive unit in a bid to win the tournament for the sixth time. (The National), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.