Two Old Firm clubs are said to be preparing summer bids for Dundee's young centre-back, while other Scottish transfer stories link several players and managers across Europe.
Rangers and Celtic are among the clubs keeping a close eye on a 22-year-old centre-back who has broken into Dundee’s first team this season. A regular in the starting XI and a Scotland under-21 squad member, he’s attracted attention across Britain thanks to a mix of composure, distribution and growing leadership at the back.
Interest isn’t limited to Glasgow. Several English Championship sides — reportedly including QPR and Portsmouth — made enquiries as early as January. Dundee turned down at least one sizeable winter bid, described by insiders as a club-record offer, which suggests Dens Park will call the shots when the market reopens.
Why big clubs like him
He’s played roughly 30 competitive matches this season and offers the sort of calm, assured presence managers like to see in the spine of a team. Scouts point to his ball-playing ability: tidy passing from deep, good positional awareness and an improving habit of organising teammates.
A recent loan spell that helped another club secure promotion adds practical weight to those attributes — he’s shown he can perform when the stakes are high.
That profile matches what both Old Firm clubs often seek: a young, technically clean centre-back who can provide immediate cover, grow into a starter and, crucially for modern recruitment models, hold resale value. In short, he ticks boxes for sporting needs and for balance-sheet thinking.
How the competition looks
With Dundee rebuffing concrete offers in January, the player stayed put to finish the campaign — giving scouts further live evidence ahead of any transfer. Championship interest is real, but the homegrown option will always appeal to clubs that value familiarity with Scottish football and the lower risk of adapting a player to British football’s physical demands.
Tactical fit and upside
On the pitch he’s more organiser than marauder: reads danger early, prefers building play from the back and rarely panics under pressure. That kind of profile suits teams who want to control possession from deep or protect a high defensive line with a reliable distributor. At 22, there’s still room to add aggression and aerial dominance, but his football intelligence is the standout trait.
Wider summer context
This chase comes amid a busy Scottish market. Motherwell’s young forward — one of the Premiership’s most productive strikers this season — has also been linked with both Rangers and Celtic, and his unsettled contract situation poses the classic question for Motherwell: cash now or risk losing him later. Meanwhile, Rangers have renewed interest in a 21-year-old Swedish midfielder whose earlier move abroad collapsed; his blend of technique and resale potential fits the type of targets many clubs favour.
Celtic’s view and squad planning
Celtic are in the middle of reviewing several loaned players and assessing squad depth ahead of next season, which shapes how aggressively they pursue defensive reinforcements. If a loaned youngster returns ready to contribute, that could dampen urgency; if not, they’ll push harder for a player who can slot in quickly.
A steadier approach to buying young talent
There’s a growing emphasis across Scotland on sustainable recruitment: signing younger players who can contribute now but also deliver financial return if sold on. That pragmatic mindset explains why clubs are prepared to wait for the right fee rather than accept rushed bids — especially when the selling club can negotiate from a position of strength.
What to expect next
Over the coming weeks scouts will hone their assessments based on end-of-season form and any post-season fixtures. Dundee’s willingness to reject big January offers suggests they’ll demand healthy compensation, so any move is likely to be carefully negotiated rather than a last-minute bargain. Expect interest to intensify through the summer, but don’t be surprised if the defender remains at Dens Park until the right package appears.
