Scottish Premiership transfer round-up: All the moves so far

planetsport.com
 
Scottish Premiership transfer round-up: All the moves so far

Here, we take a look at each club's chances and their transfer dealings to date.

Aberdeen

Manager: Barry Robson

Last season: 3rd

In: Nicky Devlin (Livingston), Ester Sokler (NK Radomlje), Rhys Williams (Liverpool, loan), Ross Doohan (Forest Green), Or Dadia (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, loan).

Out: Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Marley Watkins, Matty Kennedy (both Kilmarnock), Liam Scales, Mattie Pollock, Graeme Hayden Coulson, Jay Gorter, Dilan Markanday and Patrik Myslovic (all end of loans), Joe Lewis (unattached), Jayden Richardson (Stockport, loan).

Chances: The Dons will be looking to continue the excellent form they showed after Robson took caretaker charge in late January and earned himself a permanent deal. There appears to be no reason why that cannot happen.

Key Player: Duk

Prediction: 3rd

Celtic

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Last season: Champions

In: Odin Thiago Holm (Valerenga), Marco Tilio (Melbourne City), Yang Hyun-jun (Gangwon), Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Maik Nawrocki (Legia Warsaw), Liam Scales, Ismaila Soro, Albian Ajeti (end of loans).

Out: Jota (Al-Ittihad).

Chances: Celtic went for a proven winner after the blow of losing Ange Postecoglou and they remain the team to beat. Jota's departure is a major loss but they have added players and the team has otherwise remained intact.

Key Player: Callum McGregor

Prediction: Champions

Dundee

Manager: Tony Docherty

Last season: Championship winners

In: Joe Shaughnessy (St Mirren), Scott Tiffoney (Partick Thistle), Charlie Reilly (Albion Rovers), Antonio Portales (Atlante), Jon McCracken (Norwich, loan), Owen Beck (Liverpool, loan), Diego Pineda (Correcaminos UAT), Malachi Boateng (Crystal Palace, loan), Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest, loan), Amadou Bakayoko (Forest Green, loan), Zak Rudden (end of loan).

Out: Ryan Sweeney (Burton), Alex Jakubiak, Jordan Marshall, Paul McMullan, Luke Strachan, and Cillian Sheridan (all released), Ian Lawlor (Doncaster), Sam Fisher (Dunfermline), Ben Williamson, Lorent Tolaj, Kwame Thomas, Ryan Clampin, Luke Hannant, Barry Maguire, Pierre Reedy (all end of loans)

Chances: There is a large element of the unknown to Dundee given the change of manager and turnover of players since clinching the title in dramatic fashion under Gary Bowyer. But former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock assistant Docherty's experience of the league will be a steadying factor.

Key Player: Luke McCowan

Prediction: 10th

Hearts

Manager: Steven Naismith/Frankie McAvoy

Last season: 4th

In: Michael McGovern (Norwich), Calem Nieuwenhof (Western Sydney Wanderers), Frankie Kent (Peterborough).

Out: James Hill, Garang Kuol, Stephen Humphrys (end of loans), Josh Ginnelly (Swansea), Orestis Kiomourtzoglou (Greuther Furth), Robert Snodgrass, Michael Smith, Gary Mackay-Steven, Ross Stewart (all released).

Chances: The squad looks strong but there is an element of uncertainty over the managerial situation. Naismith was named technical director after his caretaker manager spell and McAvoy head coach to meet UEFA rules over coaching qualifications. As long as there is no ambiguity in-house, Hearts should have another good season.

Key Player: Lawrence Shankland

Prediction: 4th

Hibernian

Manager: Lee Johnson

Last season: 5th

In: Adam Le Fondre (Sydney), Jordan Obita (Wycombe), JoJo Wollacott (Charlton), Max Boruc (Slask Wroclaw), Dylan Levitt (Dundee Utd), Riley Harbottle (Nottingham Forest), Christian Doidge, Daniel McKay (end of loans)

Out: Cj Egan-Riley, Matthew Hoppe, Mykola Kuharevich (end of loans), Michael Devlin (Livingston), Aiden McGeady (Ayr), Kevin Dabrowski (Raith), Marijan Cabraja (Rijeka).

Chances: Hibs came good in the latter stages of Johnson's debut season to clinch a European spot but a first-leg defeat in Andorra showed many fans are not convinced over their manager. Their spending power and the return to fitness of Martin Boyle should see them challenge for a European place again.

Key Player: Martin Boyle

Prediction: 5th

Kilmarnock

Manager: Derek McInnes

Last season: 10th

In: Robbie Deas (Inverness), Kyle Magennis (Hibernian), Will Dennis (Bournemouth, loan), Matty Kennedy (Aberdeen), Corrie Ndaba (Ipswich, loan), Kieran O'Hara (Colchester), Stuart Findlay (Oxford, loan), Marley Watkins (Aberdeen), Tom Davies (Cardiff, loan).

Out: Alan Power (released), Chris Stokes (Morecambe), Scott Robinson, Blair Alston (both Partick Thistle), Ash Taylor (Bradford), Jordan Jones, Luke Chambers, Zach Hemming, Ben Chrisene, Christian Doidge, Ryan Alebiosu, Jeriel Dorsett (end of loans), Sam Walker (unattached).

Chances: McInnes always knew last season would be tough following promotion but he has had more opportunity to put his stamp on the squad this summer and they cannot be so poor on the road again. If Kyle Vassell continues his late-season form, the new skipper can also be the prolific striker they lacked for much of last term.

Key Player: Kyle Vassell

Prediction: 6th

Livingston

Manager: David Martindale

Last season: 8th

In: Mikey Devlin (Hibernian), Mo Sangare, Michael Nottingham (both Accrington), Miles Welch-Hayes (Harrogate Town).

Out: Jackson Longridge (Hamilton), Jack Fitzwater (free agent), Stephane Omeonga (Bnei Sakhnin).

Chances: Livi looked destined for a top-six finish for long spells last season but their form slumped after the winter transfer window. They have had a relatively-stable summer but some freshness might not go amiss and they will need to pick up form to avoid a relegation battle.

Key Player: Joel Nouble

Prediction: 11th

Motherwell

Manager: Stuart Kettlewell

Last season: 7th

In: Conor Wilkinson (Walsall), Pape Souare (Morecambe), Davor Zdravkovski (AEL Limassol), Barry Maguire (Dundee, end of loan).

Out: Kevin Van Veen (Groningen), Max Johnston (Sturm Graz), James Furlong (Brighton, end of loan), Dean Cornelius (Harrogate), Ross Tierney (Walsall, loan), Riku Danzaki (Western United), Connor Shields (Chennaiyin), Jake Carroll, Sean Goss, Jack Aitchison, Stuart McKinstry (end of loan), Olly Crankshaw (Stockport, end of loan), Josh Morris (released).

Chances: Well have the depth and strength to cope with losses in midfield and wing-back but the key to their season will be how they replace Kevin Van Veen's extraordinary goalscoring record - he netted in the last 11 games of the season. They may have to share the goals around.

Key Player: Blair Spittal

Prediction: 8th

Rangers

Manager: Michael Beale

Last season: 2nd

In: Kieran Dowell (Norwich), Dujon Sterling (Chelsea), Jack Butland (Crystal Palace), Sam Lammers (Atalanta), Abdallah Sima (Brighton, loan), Cyriel Dessers (Cremonese), Leon Balogun (QPR), Danilo (Feyenoord).

Out: Allan McGregor (retired), Scott Arfield (Charlotte), Ryan Kent (Fenerbahce), Alfredo Morelos (unattached), Filip Helabder (released), Steven Davis (unattached), Malik Tillman (end of loan), Antonio Colak (Parma), Robbie Ure (unattached).

Chances: Beale knows he needs silverware and he has now put his stamp on the team after arriving in November last year with more promising signings in the pipeline. An interesting season awaits with the attacking areas freshened up.

Key Player: James Tavernier

Prediction: 2nd

Ross County

Manager: Malky Mackay

Last season: 11th

In: Scott Allardice (Inverness), Kyle Turner (Partick Thistle), Josh Reid (Coventry), Max Sheaf (Redditch), Jay Henderson (St Mirren), James Brown (Blackburn), Will Nightingale (Wimbledon, loan).

Out: Keith Watson (Raith), Alex Iacovitti (Port Vale), David Cancola (unattached), Dominic Samuel (unattached), Owura Edwards, Gwion Edwards, Nohan Kenneh, Josh Stones (end of loans).

Chances: County survived the drop by the skin of their teeth after coming from three goals down to beat Partick Thistle on penalties. Another fight could be in store but they have signed players with experience of the league and could have more goals in their ranks with Simon Murray and Eammon Brophy looking to make their mark.

Key Player: Yan Dhanda

Prediction: 9th

St Johnstone

Manager: Steven MacLean

Last season: 9th

In: Dimitar Mitov (Cambridge), Luke Jephcott (Plymouth), Ali Crawford (end of loan).

Out: David Wotherspoon (released), Murray Davidson (retired), Jamie Murphy (Ayr), Michael O'Halloran (Dunfermline), Charlie Gilmour (Inverness), Theo Bair (unattached), Remi Matthews, Alex Mitchell, Adam Montgomery, Zak Rudden, Connor McLennan (end of loans).

Chances: Saints fans can expect another battle near the bottom after a difficult two seasons and uncertainty over the ownership, plus a slow start to transfer business and a 4-0 cup defeat by Stirling. But the arrival of Luke Jephcott and the potential for a fruitful strike partnership with Stevie May can give them hope they will improve.

Key Player: Stevie May

Prediction: Bottom

St Mirren

Manager: Stephen Robinson

Last season: 6th

In: Zach Hemming (Middlesbrough, loan), Stav Nahmani (Maccabi Haifa, loan), Conor McMenamin (Glentoran), Mikael Mandron (Motherwell), James Bolton (Plymouth).

Out: Curtis Main (Bengaluru), Richard Tait (retired), Joe Shaughnessy (Dundee), Tony Watt, Thierry Small (end of loans), Declan Gallagher (Dundee Utd), Jay Henderson (Ross County).

Chances: The Buddies will be looking to build on their first top-six finish since the split was introduced but that is easier said than done. They have retained the bulk of their team so fans can expect another decent campaign under their impressive manager.