International midfielder 'wants' Celtic move as Rangers hero goes tonto at Aberdeen clash ref - Parkhead news bulletin

Cremonese midfielder Charles Pickel reportedly wants a move to Celtic after he was 'offered' to the Hoops as an option.

All eyes are currently on a blockbuster finish to the season which could yield a double for Brendan Rodgers. They have a three-point lead at the top of the Premiership with their post-split season kicking off this weekend, and a Scottish Cup final with Rangers to come on May 25. But behind the scenes, work is pressing ahead for the summer with improvements required regardless of how the rest of this campaign shakes out.

A new midfielder is said to be a top priority, particularly with offers expected for Matt O'Riley. And Football Scotland say DR Congo international Pickel has been offered to the Hoops as an option to that end. It's said there is interest from Leeds and Preston in the 26-year-old but that he would prefer a move to Celtic if there was serious interest from Glasgow. But it remains, for now, to be seen if there will be.

Elsewhere Celtic teed up their final with Gers by beating Aberdeen on penalties at the weekend but it wouldn't be a big game in Scotland without some refereeing controversy. The Dons felt they were denied a clear penalty for a foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers on Junior Hoilett - but after a delay for a VAR review, it was pulled back for an earlier foul by Hoilett on Alistair Johnston.

An incensed Alan Hutton wasn't having that though as the Rangers hero told Football Insider: “It was a penalty – absolutely nailed on. There’s no other way around it. The ball comes into the box and Johnston and Junior Hoilett go up for the header. Hoilett then gets on the ball, takes a touch and Carter-Vickers kicks him.

“He knew what he did – everyone in the stadium thought it was a penalty. If the referee thought that Hoilett’s (foul on Johnston) was a foul, blow it and give it straight away. But the game played on for five or six seconds and then he brings it back.

“It was a really strange decision for me. He may have felt the pressure at this moment in time and it should have been a penalty – stonewall.”