SCOTLAND: Transfer Window round-up

The Scottish transfer window shut on Saturday at 11pm, no last minute deals took place but here is a club-by-club round-up of the Scottish Premiership club’s activity.

ABERDEEN

IN: Michael Hector (Reading, loan), Willo Flood (Dundee Utd), Barry Robson (Sheffield United), Lawrence Shankland (Queen’s Park), Nicky Weaver (Sheffield Wednesday), Gregg Wylde (Bolton Wanderers), Calvin Zola (Burton Albion)

OUT: Jordon Brown (Peterhead), Stephen Hughes (RELEASED), Rory Fallon (St Johnstone), Declan McManus (Alloa, loan), Mitchel Megginson (Dumbarton), Robert Milsom (Rotherham), Gary Naysmith (East Fife), Isaac Osbourne (Partick Thistle), Gavin Rae (Dundee), Dan Twardzik (Dundee)

Best Signing: Willo Flood – the reason I go for Flood is he is very experienced and is an upgrade on the likes of Gavin Rae who has left the club; he has started the season in good form and is giving the Dons a new dimension in the middle of the park.

Biggest Loss: Rory Fallon – the New Zealand international will be a big miss, for the club he was a battering ram for the Pittodrie club, despite his injury record and three goals in two seasons, he was always a very good weapon to have in the squad.

CELTIC

IN: Amido Balde (Vitoria Guimaraes), Nir Biton (FC Ashdod), Derk Boerrigter (Ajax), Steven Mouyokolo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Virgil van Dijk (FC Groningen), Teemu Pukki (Schalke)

OUT: Rami Gershon (Standard Liege, end of loan), Gary Hooper (Norwich City), Jackson Irvine (Kilmarnock), Paddy McCourt (Barnsley), Callum McGregor (Notts County,loan), Patrick McNally (Cliftonville, loan), Miku (Getafe, end of loan), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Lassad Nouioui (RELEASED), Thomas Rogne (Wigan Athletic), Victory Wanyama (Southampton), Kelvin Wilson (Nottingham Forest), Tony Watt (SK Lierse, loan)

Best Signing: Teemu Pukki – The Finnish striker joined from the Bundesliga has good pace and power and a very decent finisher, he has much more to his game to departing Gary Hooper, quite a coup for Lennon as he looked for reinforcements.

Biggest Loss: Victor Wanyama – The big Kenyan’s pace and power will be sorely missed after his superb season last year that got him his move to Southampton, Kayal and new signing Nir Biton will be adequate cover but neither have the power and presence of the holding midfielder.

DUNDEE UNITED

IN: Calum Butcher (Hayes and Yeading), Nader Ciftci (NAC Breda), Aiden Connolly (Queen’s Park), Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle), David Goodwillie (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Brian Graham (Raith Rovers), Kudus Oyenuga (Hayes and Yeading), Paul Paton (Partick Thistle), Andrew Robertson (Queen’s Park), Mark Wilson (Bristol City)

OUT: Steve Banks (St Johnstone), Rory Boulding (RELEASED), Paddy Barrett (Waterford United, loan) Jon Daly (Rangers), Barry Douglas (Lech Poznan), Willo Flood (Aberdeen), Dale Hilson (Forfar Athletic, loan), Luke Johnston (Dunfermline Athletic, loan) Brian McLean (Ross County), Jordan Moore (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Richie Ryan (Shamrock Rovers), Johnny Russell (Derby County), Ross Smith (Stenhousemuir, loan), Marcus Tornstrand (Ostersunds FK)

Best Signing: David Goodwillie – The striker who is on his second spell at the club still has the hunger after failing to impress at Crystal Palace and Blackburn he has come back with the fire in his belly ready to repay the club’s faith in him.

Biggest Loss: Johnny Russell – The Scotland international will be a massive miss after moving to Derby County in the early matches of the season it’s clear to see that United miss his movement and pace, rumours were going around that Serie A club Catania wanted him, but he eventually signed on at Pride Park certainly Derby’s gain.

HEARTS

IN: Danny Wilson (Liverpool)

OUT: Darren Barr (Kilmarnock), Danny Grainger (St Mirren), Fraser Mullen (Hibernian), Arvydas Novikovas (Erzgebirge Aue), Denis Prychynenko (FK Sevastopol), Gordon Smith (Raith Rovers), John Sutton (Motherwell), Mehdi Taouil (Sivasspor), Andy Webster (Coventry City), Marius Zaliukas (RELEASED)

Best Signing: Danny Wilson – The only summer signing and new club captain despite being under 25 his experience with Rangers and Liverpool will prove invaluable as he is the leader of a very young Hearts squad.

Biggest Loss: Marius Zaliukas – The ex-captain will be missed he has been a loyal servant to Hearts, left the club due to the financial situation.

HIBERNIAN

IN: Ryan McGivern (Manchester City), Owain Tudor Jones (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Fraser Mullen (Hearts), Rowan Vine (St Johnstone), Kevin Thomson (Middlesborough, Michael Nelson (Bradford City), Abdullah Zoubir (FC Istres), Paul Heffernan (Kilmarnock)

OUT: David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone), Gary Deegan (Northampton Town)

Best Signing: Paul Heffernan – The former Doncaster striker joined on the last day of the window from Kilmarnock he is sure to solve their goalscoring problem, as he is a proven Scottish Premiership striker, he will form a good partnership with other new recruit James Collins.

Biggest Loss: David Wotherspoon – The midfielder will be missed in my opinion he is tidy on the ball and can play in a variety of positions, he was very under-used last season by Fenlon.

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE

IN: James Vincent (Kidderminster Harriers), Danny Williams (Kendall Town), Ben Greenhalgh (Maidstone Utd), Marley Watkins (Hereford Utd), Adam Evans (Burnley), Harry Hooman (Cheltenham Town), Curtis Allen (Coleraine), Joe Gorman (Crewe), Dean Brill (Luton Town loan), Torbjorn Agdestein (Brighton)

OUT: Owain Tudor Jones (Hibernian), Gavin Morrison (Brora Rangers), Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham City)

Best Signing: James Vincent – a very competent midfield player who has added composure to the side and notched himself a few goals from penalties.

Biggest Loss: Andrew Shinnie – would have been a loss for any side in the division very good creative midfielder, who gets his fair whack of goals.

KILMARNOCK

IN: Craig Samson (St Mirren), Antonio Roguero (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Darren Barr (Hearts), Kris Boyd (permanent from loan), William Gros (permanent from loan), Kyle Jacobs (Livingston), Sean Clossey (Southend), Jackson Irvine (Celtic – loan), Barry Nicholson (Fleetwood Town), Mark Stewart (Dundee)

OUT: Cammy Bell (Rangers), James Dayton (Oldham Athletic), Cillian Sheridan (APOEL Nicosia), Kyle Letheren (Dundee), Ryan O’Leary (Los Angeles Blues), Borja Perez (Tenerife), Garry Hay (Airdrieonians), Paul Heffernan (Hibernian)

Best Signing: Kris Boyd – securing the hitman on a permanent deal is massive for the club he will guarantee them between 15 and 20 goals per season especially with the loss of Heffernan to Hibs his goals will be even more vital.

Biggest Loss: Cammy Bell – The ‘keeper will be a massive loss he was central to how Killie liked to play with his short distribution from the back, he ended his long-time association with the club to join Rangers, he will be missed by the club on a playing sense and by the fans.

MOTHERWELL

IN: Ian Vigurs & Paul Lawson (both Ross County), John Sutton (Hearts), Fraser Kerr (Birmingham City), Gunnar Nielsen (Silkeborg IF), Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough), James McFadden (free agent), Henri Anier – loan (Viking Stavanger)

OUT: Chris Humphrey (Preston North End), Darren Randolph (Birmingham City), Nicky Law (Rangers), Steven Saunders (Ross County), Michael Higdon (NEC Nijmegen), Henrik Ojamma, (Legia Warsaw)

Best Signing: Henri Anier – the Estonian has come in and done a superb job so far, it’s a hard act trying to replace Henrik Ojamma but the young striker has three goals in five games and is quickly becoming a favourite of the Motherwell fans.

Biggest Loss: Nicky Law – Motherwell have not had the start to the season they would have liked part of it is down to the new midfield, they are missing the drive and goalscoring threat of Law, he was certainly one of the fans’ favourites.

PARTICK THISTLE

IN: John Baird (Dundee), Paul Gallacher (Ross County), Mark Kerr (Dundee), Henoc Mukendi (Liverpool, loan), Gary Fraser (Bolton, loan), Ross Meechan (St Mirren), Gabriel Rojo de la Vega Piccolo (Rayo Vallecano B), Simon Colina (Barcelona), Issac Osbourne (Aberdeen), Kallum Higginbotham (Huddersfield Town), Declan McDaid (Morton), James Martin (Hamilton), Darren Brownlie (Ayr United)

OUT: Paul Paton (Dundee United), Chris Erskine (Dundee United), Ryan Scully (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Mark McGuigan (Albion Rovers, loan)

Best Signing: Kallum Higginbotham – this is a good signing for Thistle, the kind of player that can make a difference and unlock tight defences also will chip in with his fair share of goals.

Biggest Loss: Chris Erskine – massive player in the promotion campaign last season for the Jags, hasn’t been able to force himself into the Dundee Utd starting eleven just yet, early days though.

ROSS COUNTY

IN: Melvin de Leeuw (SC Cambuur), Darren Maatsen, Marc Klok (FC Utrecht), Kevin Luckassen (AZ Alkmaar), Ben Gordon (Yeovil Town), Steven Saunders (Motherwell), Brian McLean (Dundee United), Graham Carey (St Mirren), Orhan Mustafi (Grasshopper ,loan)

OUT: Iain Vigurs (Motherwell), Paul Gallacher (Partick Thistle), Paul Lawson (Motherwell), Mark Fotheringham (Notts County), Evangelos Ikonomou (Veria)

Best Signing: Graham Carey – the midfielder from St Mirren has already proved a decent signing, has a lovely left-foot and is a bit of a set-piece expert.

Biggest Loss: Iain Vigurs – big loss from the midfielder for the Stags his energy and goal-threat from open play is certainly Motherwell’s gain.

ST JOHNSTONE

IN: Gary McDonald (Morecambe), Gwion Edwards (Swansea, loan), David Wotherspoon (Hibernian), Brian Easton (Dundee), Stevie Banks (Dundee United), Rory Fallon (Aberdeen), Murray Davidson, Alex Kitchen (St Johnstone)

OUT: Liam Craig (Hibernian), Gregory Tade (CFR Cluj), Rowan Vine (Hibernian), David McCracken (Falkirk)

Best Signing: Murray Davidson – It looked like the midfielder would go elsewhere when his contract expired, it must be said the management team and fans will be glad to have him back at the club he often pops up with goals from the midfield area which is priceless.

Biggest Loss: Liam Craig – was quite surprised when I learned that Craig had left always did a good job and was a reliable player who provided some creative spark from the middle of the park.

ST MIRREN

IN: Gary Harkins (Dundee), Kealan Dillon (Hull City), David Cornell (Swansea City, loan), Christopher Dilo (Blackburn Rovers), Danny Grainger (Hearts), Jake Caprice (Blackpool, loan), Stephane Bahoken (Nice, loan), Conor Newton (Newcastle United, loan)

OUT: Craig Samson (Kilmarnock), Grant Adam, Lewis Guy (Carlisle), Sam Parkin (Exeter City), Dougie Imrie (Greenock Morton), Graham Carey (Ross County), Jon Robertson (Cowdenbeath)

Best Signing: Gary Harkins – the midfielder will give them a calming experienced influence in the middle of the park, with the ability to score goals and play the killer final pass.

Biggest Loss: Graham Carey – the midfielder’s set-piece ability will be missed and his long-range shooting ability.