Pocognoli frontrunner for Scotland role as Celtic and Rangers navigate transfer market

Former Monaco and Union Saint-Gilloise head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is the frontrunner to become the new manager of Scotland, potentially replacing Steve Clarke. The 39-year-old Belgian is set to take the helm after the Scottish Football Association worked through a shortlist of candidates for the national team position.

In Scottish Premiership news, Celtic are undergoing significant squad restructuring. Midfielder Arne Engels has agreed terms to join West Ham United on a five-year contract, with the clubs settling on a reported £22m fee. This transaction would shatter the English Championship transfer record.

Celtic are already targeting a replacement for Engels, with Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth high on their list. The Championship club is understood to be seeking a fee of more than £4m for the 28-year-old. Additionally, forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha is poised to leave the club, viewed as a casualty of manager Martin O’Neill’s tactical setup, with interest from Monza, Basel, and Elversberg.

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Derek McInnes has secured the loan signing of left-back James Penrice from AEK Athens. The 27-year-old’s arrival comes as the club withdrew from a £6.5m deal for PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech. PSV have expressed bemusement at the withdrawal, believing the player’s injury was known to the Ibrox club and that he is close to full fitness.

Celtic are also attempting to retain 17-year-old striker Emmanuel Obidiwe from Premier League suitors, while former full-back Efrain Juarez has stated his ambition to manage the Glasgow club one day. In other developments, Dietmar Kuhbauer has tipped Celtic to be stronger than his LASK side ahead of their Champions League play-off, and former Hearts winger Alexandros Kyziridis scored and was sent off on his debut for Turkish side Corum.