RANGERS are interested in bringing Watford striker Andre Gray to Ibrox on loan for next season. Gray, 27, joined the Hornets two years ago for a club record fee of around £18 million.

But former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp thinks that Jermain Defoe, who played under Redknapp at Spurs, will provide the goals for Steven Gerrard’s side. “Of course, he could score 40 goals next season. Without a doubt,” said Redknapp.

And Redknapp believes that his friend Dermot Desmond will embark on a spending spree this summer to create distance between Celtic and Rangers. “Dermot is a winner in whatever he does,” Redknapp said. “Will he up the ante? He’s such a clever man.”

Celtic under-20s have lifted the Glasgow Cup after defeating Rangers 3-2 at Parkhead last night. Jack Aitchison, Mikey Johnston and Robbie Deas got the goals for Celtic, with Glenn Middleton grabbing a brace for Graeme Murty’s team.

Speaking after the match, Murty said he was proud of his players despite the result. “I thought we were going to go and win the game,” admitted Murty. “We had a few opportunities to get another goal but when you don’t do that you open yourself up to the opposition.”

Celtic under-20s manager Tommy McIntyre, meanwhile, reckons that both sets of players did the occasion justice. McIntyre said: “I think it was a great advert for our young players and I thought the boys were magnificent.”

Former Celtic striker John Hartson would like to see his old team-mate Neil Lennon given the Celtic job on a permanent basis - but admitted that opinion is currently split about Lennon’s prospects. “The feeling I get is that the fans love Neil, he’s a legend, he started this off, he’s one of our own, but, I’m not too sure if I want him to be the one to take us on,” said Hartson.

And Hartson believes that more studies are required to explore the link between footballers and dementia. Hartson said: “They do say there might be a link and potentially there might be as a lot of these ex-players are suffering from dementia.”

Alloa manager Jim Goodwin has insisted that Motherwell winger Jake Hastie - who spent the first half of the season at the Championship club - has proven that loaning academy players to the lower leagues is beneficial for their careers. "Young boys have to go out on loan," Goodwin said. "Playing reserve team football, in my opinion, doesn’t match up, it isn’t the same.”

And Goodwin has backed Hastie to break into the first team at Ibrox next season, and believes an international call-up could be in the offing. Goodwin said: “I hope that Jake goes, is a success, develops even further, gets even better and perhaps even breaks his way into the national team as well.”

Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom has conceded that Kilmarnock are in the driving seat to secure a European spot after Hibs’ 1-1 draw against Hearts last weekend. “The three points would have made all the difference, because it would have been in our hands,” admitted Heckingbottom.

Rangers pair Jermain Defoe and Nikola Katic will not face any disciplinary action from the Scottish FA following incidents during the weekend’s 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

Former Dunfermline goalkeeper Sean Murdoch has retired from playing but plans to remain in football as a referee. “Refereeing can be a fantastic career,” insisted Murdoch. “If you are lucky and good enough you can go far, really far.”

Neil Cameron thinks that the next Scotland manager must have a pragmatic approach to football - and reckons that Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is the right man for the job.

Elsewhere, the Scottish Sun reckon that Celtic and Hamburg are interested in signing Livingstone goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

The Daily Record are reporting that Gary Caldwell has asked his players to pick their own team ahead of Saturday’s do-or-die clash with Queen of the South.

Dundee’s owners will not walk away from the club even if the Dens Park side are relegated to the second tier, report the Scotsman.

And Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has told the Press and Journal that his former player Kenny McLean, who recently won promotion from the English Championship with Norwich, will thrive in the English Premier League.