When top target Luke McCowan decided to sign with Premiership rivals Celtic in the summer, Hibs suffered a severe setback.

After a protracted transfer saga, Celtic ultimately secured the signing of highly-rated midfielder Luke McCowan from Dundee, beating out competition from Hibernian. Hibs had pursued the 26-year-old throughout the summer and were reportedly willing to offer up to £1 million for his services, according to their sporting director, Malkay Mackay. However, McCowan completed his move to Celtic on deadline day and made an immediate impact by debuting in a 3-0 victory over city rivals Rangers just two days later.

McCowan expressed his excitement about joining Celtic and took the opportunity to thank Dundee for their role in his development. He joined Dundee in 2021, playing over 100 games and scoring 28 goals. In an emotional Instagram post, McCowan, who served as Dundee’s captain, wrote, “Dee’s…now that I’ve finally caught up on sleep, I want to say thank you. Everyone involved with the club, staff/players and fans have helped me reach my dream. What an amazing journey it’s been playing for your club for 3.5 years. Me and Erin will always hold this club close to our hearts, Dundee became our home. Up the Dee.”

In other news, Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi is expected to stay at Ibrox this season despite rumors linking him with a move to Romania. The 25-year-old has been sidelined from Philippe Clement’s plans and has been training with the B team during pre-season. Hagi is unlikely to feature for Rangers again due to a clause in his contract that would grant him a pay rise if he reaches 100 appearances—he is currently at 99.

Rangers had hoped that Romanian champions FC Steaua București (FCSB) might provide Hagi with an exit route, but his reported £20,000 per week salary has been a stumbling block. With the Romanian transfer window open until September 9, a move remains possible, but it seems increasingly likely that Hagi will stay with Rangers for the rest of 2024.