Aris Thessaloniki remain determined to complete a move for John Souttar before Tuesday evening's Greek transfer deadline, though the deal hinges on resolving a contract disagreement with Rangers over the Scotland centre-back's future.
The 29-year-old is understood to be seeking payment for the remaining year of his contract at Ibrox as part of any departure, a request Rangers have so far been unwilling to accommodate. The stand-off leaves the transfer in the balance with limited time remaining for Aris to finalize a deal before the window closes in Greece.
Souttar's potential exit comes amid a period of change behind the scenes at Ibrox. Simon Ireland has departed his position as the club's set-piece coach only months after taking over from Scott Fry, who left in the summer to join Birmingham City.
Elsewhere in the squad, several Rangers players are attracting international attention. Germany-born forward Ryan Naderi has been named in a preliminary squad list under consideration by the Czech Republic for this month's Nations League matches, having previously turned down an approach from Bulgaria. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Rangers attacker Kim Min-su has earned his maiden call-up to the South Korea national team, a significant milestone in his young career.
Across the Old Firm divide, Celtic full-back Colby Donovan, also 20, is expected to receive a first Scotland call-up on Tuesday. He could be joined in the squad by Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, 30, who is reportedly in line for a recall. McBurnie has not featured for the national side since March 2021 and will be hopeful that his recent form at club level has been sufficient to earn him a return to the international fold.
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is also poised for international recognition, with reports suggesting the £73m signing could be called up by Slovenia for the first time in a year. Should that call-up materialize, Sesko would face off against Sebastien Pocognoli, who will be taking charge of Scotland for the first time as head coach.
In a separate development away from the pitch, Scotland fans attending upcoming matches at Hampden Park will be permitted to purchase alcoholic beverages at the stadium, marking a change to matchday policy for supporters.
The coming days are likely to bring further clarity on several fronts, including whether Souttar's move to Greece can be completed, the make-up of the new Scotland squad under Pocognoli, and how the various international call-ups will shape player availability for their respective clubs going forward. Rangers, in particular, will be monitoring the situation closely given the number of players potentially set for international duty this month, while also navigating the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Souttar's contract situation and the recent coaching change within their backroom staff.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, Football Insider, Herald, Record, National, and Sun.