Aston Villa remain firmly interested in Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, with sources close to the Belgian international suggesting that a move to the Premier League is increasingly likely to materialize next year. The interest comes despite Rangers having rebuffed a £12m bid from Hull City for the player earlier this summer, a sign that the Ibrox club value him highly and will not be rushed into a sale.
Meanwhile, on loan at Kilmarnock, young midfielder Bailey Rice continues to build a reputation that could benefit his parent club in the long run. Killie coach Kirk Broadfoot has been encouraged by what he has seen from the 20-year-old since his arrival from Rangers, predicting that the loan spell will ultimately prove valuable for Ibrox once Rice returns. Broadfoot believes the experience gained at Rugby Park will help shape Rice into "an asset" for Rangers moving forward.
Across the city, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is poised to make a tactical adjustment for the club's upcoming league fixture against Motherwell. O'Neill is set to abandon the back three formation that was deployed in Celtic's recent Old Firm derby with Rangers, reverting instead to the more familiar back four setup. The switch to three at the back was reportedly a one-off tactical decision aimed specifically at countering Rangers' system in that particular match, rather than a long-term shift in approach.
Elsewhere at Celtic Park, hopes remain high for forward Kasper Hogh despite a quiet start to his time in Glasgow. Former Celtic striker Gary Hooper has backed the Danish forward to kick on once he gets off the mark, suggesting that a single goal could be the catalyst needed to unlock his potential and ignite his Hoops career.
Celtic's involvement in the international scene also made headlines this week, after midfielder Benjamin Nygren was among five players sent home from Sweden's training camp due to a sickness bug. Sweden team manager Kim Kallstrom has defended the national setup's handling of the situation, standing by the squad's protocols despite the setback affecting several players including the Celtic man.
In more pointed comments regarding his Celtic exit, Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho has spoken about his decision to turn down a new contract at Parkhead in favour of a move to Turkish second-tier side Bursaspor. Iheanacho insisted that he opted for a challenging environment rather than an easy route, and his early form appears to support that claim — the striker has contributed 11 goals and two assists in just eight appearances for a Bursaspor side currently sitting joint top of the division.
Finally, at Tynecastle, Hearts are preparing to integrate two of their summer signings more fully into first-team contention. Teenage duo Aron Benjaminsen, a forward who joined from Faroese side Vikingur Gota, and midfielder Leart Kabashi, formerly of Grasshopper Zurich, are both 18 years old and expected to push for regular competitive minutes once the current international break concludes.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, TeamTalk, Sun, Football Insider, Herald, and Glasgow Times, Edinburgh Evening News.