Defoe & McAllister ready to join Gerrard at Rangers - gossip

Former manager Steven Gerrard was due to arrive in London on Wednesday night to hold talks with Rangers over the next couple of days about their head coach vacancy. (Sky Sports), external

Rangers want to know if Gerrard can be convinced to return as team boss, while the 45-year-old would be keen on the job but would want to know there is money to strengthen the squad in January and would want the final say on all transfer activity. (Record), external

Gerrard wants to recruit at least four staff members should he return as Rangers team boss, with Jermaine Defoe and Gary McAllister among those ready to join him and former Ibrox midfielder Steven Davis being mooted as a potential addition to the coaching staff. (TeamTalk), external

Youth coaches Steven Smith, Brian Gilmour, Sal Bibbo and Rhys Owen took charge of Rangers' first-team players not on international duty as they returned to training after being given a short break following the dismissal of Russell Martin. (Glasgow Times), external

Rangers want Wolverhampton Wanderers academy manager Jonathan Hunter-Barrett to head up their Auchenhowie academy. (Record), external

The potential of Tottenham Hotspur recalling Mikey Moore from his loan to Rangers could hinge on the Ibrox club's next managerial appointment and whether the 18-year-old winger is given more playing time. (TeamTalk), external

Derek McInnes has reassured Heart of Midlothian that he is committed to his job as head coach and keen to build for the future amid suggestions Rangers might be interested in their former midfielder. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin is "not in a hurry to leave", with his agent and the Scottish Premiership leaders in talks about a new contract and the 27-year-old adding: "I'd love to stay." (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Hearts' squad market value has risen by £1.75m in the past year, while Aberdeen's has dropped by £0.95m. (Transfermarkt), external

Middlesbrough forward David Strelec, 24, says the Championship outfit and Mexican club Monterrey were his only options when leaving Slovan Bratislava this summer, with Celtic's winter interest having fallen through because of complications over an agent. (Record), external

Ajax midfielder Kian Fitz-Jim, the 22-year-old who has had few opportunities to impress since John Heitinga became head coach, would be a perfect fit for Celtic, according to data analytics firm SciSports. (Football Transfers), external

While only three Celtic squad members' market values have risen compared to Rangers' five in the past 12 months and Celtic's overall squad value dropped by £3.86m, from £118.99m to £115.13m, they are still £24.48m more valuable than Rangers, with the Ibrox squad dropping in value by £216,970 to £90.65m. (Transfermarkt), external

Stevie Mallan has revealed he came close to signing for Raith Rovers this summer after training with the Kirkcaldy club during pre-season, but St Johnstone secured the 29-year-old midfielder after their Championship rivals stalled on putting a deal on the table. (Courier - subscription required), external

Former England manager Sam Allardyce is interested in taking the Scotland job in the future, citing his Scottish roots. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Belarus head coach Carlos Alos believes their World Cup qualifier with Scotland should have been taken place away from Hampden Park at a neutral venue because of his players' UK visa issues. (Herald - subscription required), external

Scotland have been handed a bad omen for the World Cup qualifier against Greece after controversial Norwegian referee Espen Eskas, who has already been in charge of dismal European nights for Celtic and Aberdeen this season, was appointed. (The Herald), external