Napoli believe Scott McTominay wants to extend his contract at the club despite reports of interest from Real Madrid. Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has revealed that talks over a new deal are ongoing, and he believes the 29-year-old Scotland midfielder wants to stay. McTominay still has two years of his current Napoli contract to run.
The Scotland international’s standing has also been underlined in the latest market value update. At £34m, McTominay is the 35th most valuable British player and the top Scot in the list, one place ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Scotland-qualified England youth defender Archie Gray.
Elsewhere, Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has explained Connor Barron’s lack of game time on loan from Rangers. Hellberg described the 24-year-old midfielder as a good player but said he is in the same situation as many summer signings who are only now beginning to break into Championship starting line-ups.
In management news, former Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss Duncan Ferguson is among the leading candidates to become Glentoran’s next manager. Former Rangers left-back Gregory Vignal also wants to become a manager in his adopted home of Scotland after leaving his role as Blackburn Rovers Under-21 boss. The 45-year-old has previously worked in Rangers’ academy and with Dundee.
Beveren technical director Bob Peeters believes new Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk will bring success to Easter Road, just as the 34-year-old did with Beveren despite a disappointing first season there.
Former Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp has revealed that Neil Lennon tried to sign him for Celtic twice, but Sharp cites his deep-rooted love for the Blades as the reason the move never happened. At Celtic, 17-year-old B striker Lucas Clearie trained with the first team before the Scottish champions’ Europa League match against Benfica.