Luis Palma to Celtic transfer latest as winger ‘absent from Aris training’

The goalscoring Honduras international is wanted by Brendan

Celtic target Luis Palma reportedly missed Aris’ training session today as talks continue over a move to Parkhead.

The Hoops have launched a £3.5million bid for the Honduran winger as they seek a direct replacement for Jota. Anderlecht and Watford are also in the running for his signature but the Scottish champions are favourites to win the race. It’s said that Palma has interest from Saudi Arabia too but has his heart set on continuing his career in Europe.

Palma, 23, has been one of the standout performers in Greek football in recent years, supplying 21 goal contributions in 36 games last season – scoring 13 and assisting eight. Rangers have also been tracking the talented attacker but Michael Beale decided against making a formal offer after choosing to pursue other targets.

Now, a move to Parkhead could be on the cards as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his frontline by adding another attacker. And Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos claims that Palma missed his side’s most recent training session with Aris locked in talks with the player’s agent amid growing interest.

Celtic are confident a deal can be struck to bring the goalscoring wide man to Glasgow as Rodgers looks to add up to four new players to his squad before next Friday’s deadline.

The Hoops boss admits the Treble-winners are WEAKER now compared to last season’s team having lost Jota, Aaron Mooy and Carl Starfelt over the summer.

The club’s injury list is also mounting up, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh all long-term crocks.

 

 

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Celtic defeat a learning curve as Hamilton Accies Women boss looks for Lanarkshire derby hero

Accies face Motherwell this weekend after a heavy defeat to Celtic on Sunday

Robert Watson says it is time for a new hero to step up in a Lanarkshire Derby, as the Hamilton Accies Women boss aims to replicate last season’s victory over Motherwell.

Watson was No.2 to Gary Doctor last term when Eilidh Austin’s hat-trick delivered a memorable 3-1 victory in the final derby of the season.

Austin is now back at Rangers following her loan spell at Accies and Watson wants someone to follow in her footsteps by becoming the match-winner in Sunday’s clash at K-Park in East Kilbride.

He said: “Eilidh has gone to Rangers and got a full-time contract, which we are really pleased about for her.

“Although we have a lot of young players and we’ve brought in some untested players in the division, we have brought in some talent.

“So it is time for someone else to be a hero in this fixture. It was Eilidh last time out, now it is time for someone else to step up.

“And hopefully that player is on our side and not Motherwell’s, come Sunday.

“Games between both clubs have generally been quite close and difficult to call. It’s been about delivering in key moments that has proved the difference between the two teams.

“Taking chances is obviously the key thing and if you can get yourself a goal or two ahead, then it will be difficult for a team to come back from that. We will look to score first and hope that can give us some confidence in the game.”

Accies go into the clash off the back of a 7-1 thrashing by title challengers Celtic and a 3-0 defeat to Partick Thistle on Wednesday night.

Despite the heavy defeat to the Hoops, Watson was pleased with his side’s attacking play.

He said: “A lot of teams won’t score a goal against Celtic this season so that is a positive to take.

“From that point of view that is really pleasing, but, overall, it was a steep learning curve for us.”