The Scottish Premiership transfer window is generating significant buzz as the league’s top three teams prepare for an intense title showdown. Here’s the latest roundup of developments, courtesy of Daily Mail Sport, along with other key stories from the world of Scottish sports.

Hibernian Faces Offers for Bowie but Keeps Options Open for Rangers Clash

Hibernian’s manager, David Gray, has acknowledged that the club has received offers for their highly sought-after striker, Kieron Bowie. Despite the interest, Bowie remains a potential player for Sunday’s home game against Rangers in the Premiership.

In a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, Gray addressed the situation, stating, “There has been considerable interest in Kieron, and with the transfer window open, speculation is inevitable. We have received a few bids, but that’s all I can disclose at the moment.”

Gray added, “I just saw him playing darts a short while ago, and he trained this morning without any sign of distraction. Until there’s an official change, or unless I’m informed otherwise, he remains available for this weekend’s match.”

‘And until anything changes – and that can happen at any time with the window being open – or anyone tells me otherwise, then he’ll be available for this weekend.’

Bowie, who joined from Fulham for £600,000 18 months ago, has scored nine goals this term. While Gray has no desire to lose a key player, he stressed that if he does move on before the window closes on Monday, the Easter Road club will be ready to bring in reinforcements.

‘I can’t look at it from a selfish point of view at all, for what helps David Gray, not at all,’ said the manager. ‘It’s what’s right for Hibernian.

‘If Kieron was to move on, and it was right for everybody involved, it’s about how you react from that.

‘That’s the beauty of the window. We are working hard, making sure that if we did lose someone like Kieron, then we can try and bring in a replacement.”

Hibs announced their first signing of the window on Thursday as 19-year-old Irish striker Owen Elding joined from Sligo Rovers on a contract until the summer of 2030.

‘I think his record speaks for itself, he’s such a young boy but he’s played a lot of men’s football already at a good level and scored a variety of goals,’ said Gray.

‘He’s a really exciting one for the football club. In terms of the expectation, you don’t want to put too much pressure on him, he’s only 19, but I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to getting involved as quick as he can.’

Regardless of what happens with Bowie, Gray does not expect Elding to be the only new arrival this month.

‘Ideally, as a manager, you’d want that (new arrivals) on day one but it never happens like that,’ said the manager. ‘The domino effect always happens towards the end of the window.

‘I’d like to add to the squad if we can, and if we think that the right people can come in to make us better. I do think there will be movement and we’ll certainly be continuing to work hard right to the very end.’

HEARTS FINALLY GET THEIR MAN AS MATO ARRIVES 

Hearts have confirmed the long-awaited arrival of Rogers Mato.

The Ugandan forward joins on an initial loan deal from North Macedonian side FK Vardar until the end of the season, subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval.

At the end of the season, upon the expiry of his contract with Vardar, Rogers’ permanent three-year contract with Hearts will begin.

The 22-year-old has 41 caps and has scored eight times for his country, including a recent strike at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

He arrives in Edinburgh off the back of an impressive season in the Balkans, having scored 12 goals in 13 games for Vardar, sending them top of their domestic league.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes said: ‘It’s great work from the club to get Rogers in during this window and I’m really pleased that he’s here and ready to go.

‘He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems.

‘He’s been in to meet the boys and has made a good first impression, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.’

POWERFUL AREMU ARRIVES FROM GERMANY TO BOLSTER ABERDEEN MIDFIELD 

Nigerian international midfielder Afeez Aremu has joined Aberdeen from Bundesliga 2 side FC Kaiserslautern for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old arrives on a permanent contract until 2028, and is the Dons’ fifth signing of the January window following the arrivals of Lyall Cameron, Liam Morrison, Toyosi Olusanya, and Per Kristian Bråtveit.

Aberdeen’s sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel was keen to secure the defensive midfielder who is known for his physical presence.

‘Afeez is going to bring a real physical edge to the squad, which is something we have been looking for,’ said Pfannenstiel.

‘He’s strong, robust and comes with good experience in a competitive environment in Germany.

‘He is also tactically aware so, combined with his athletic attributes, we believe he can adapt well to the intensity of the Scottish game and make a real impact.’

Afeez is ready to embrace a new opportunity in Scotland.

He said: ‘I’m excited to be here. I’ve been made to feel really welcome and I can’t wait to get started.

‘I like new challenges and I think Aberdeen offers that. For me, I am growing and taking the next step in my career, so it’s a huge move.

‘I’m an aggressive player, but I have other attributes to my game.

‘There is a lot to play for this season. There is a chance to move forward and I want to strengthen the team to help us achieve good things.

‘I’m ready to give everything every time I put the shirt on and I look forward to playing in front of the fans.’

Meanwhile,  Aberdeen striker Kusini Yengi has joined Japanese side Cerezo Osaka on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 27-year-old Australian joined the Dons last summer following two years with Portsmouth but has struggled to establish himself at Pittodrie.

Yengi, who is contracted to the Reds until the summer of 2028, scored once in 10 appearances in the first half of the season but has not featured in the Premiership since September, with his last outing coming as a substitute in the Conference League defeat by Strasbourg on December 11.

Yengi follows his brother Tete in leaving the Scottish top flight this week to move to Japan after the 25-year-old joined Machida Zelvia on loan from Livingston.

COUNTY STRIKER HALE JOINS GILLINGHAM

Ross County have sold prolific striker Ronan Hale to Gillingham for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old Northern Irishman joined the Staggies from Cliftonville 18 months ago and scored 30 goals in 68 appearances.

‘We would like to place on record our thanks to Ronan for his efforts and contribution at Ross County,’ read a club statement.

‘Everyone at the club wishes Ronan all the very best in the next stage of his career.’

LIVI VETERAN CAREY MAKES DUNFERMLINE SWITCH

Livingston midfielder Graham Carey has joined Championship side Dunfermline on loan until the end of the season.

The 36-year-old joined the Lions in the summer following his departure from St Johnstone but he has made only 11 appearances and has not played for David Martindale’s side since November 30.

The Livi boss, meanwhile, is waiting to learn if midfielder Mohamadou Susoho will be recalled from his season-long loan by parent club Manchester City, with other clubs interested.

‘I’ve got no control over that whatsoever,’ said Martindale. ‘If he does go, it’ll be a wee bit of a blow, but if we manage to keep him by the window, I’d be delighted with that one.’

MOTHEREWELL BOSS ASKOU ADMITS HIS HIGH DEMANDS MAKE RECRUITMENT DIFFICULT 

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admits his specific demands make January recruitment challenging.

The Dane remains on the hunt for potential additions, with Celtic defender Stephen Welsh a priority, but he needs players to be able to adapt quickly to his style of play.

Sole January signing Norwegian striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson delivered a debut assist in last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Kilmarnock, which made it six straight home wins and nine consecutive clean sheets at Fir Park.

Askou, whose team travel to Livingston on Saturday, said: ‘We are spending every minute to see if we can just get the last bit of quality and competition to carry us through.

‘Which means we haven’t decided not to do any more business. But we need to make sure that, if we do something, it’s the right fit for us.

‘Because it’s very specific what we do, and it takes a little bit of time to get up to speed with what we do and go in and deliver a top performance, the way we play, if you come from a different environment.

‘We have to make sure that the potential to learn fast is there, or to go in straightaway and deliver at the same level of what we already have or even higher.

‘That is difficult for us to identify these players with the budget we are working with. It’s possible, but we need to be really thorough and really patient and sharp.’

Askou is heavily involved in that process along with head of recruitment Nick Daws and his team.

‘My experience is that it will give by far the best outcome for the club and for the player if the manager/head coach is very involved in that process and knows exactly what he is getting, what he needs to develop, where he’s really good,’ he said.

‘It just makes it so much easier from day one to utilise the areas where he’s really good and just add a little bit to get up to speed.

‘It’s also about believing in the character and the player and the more you are committed to that process that happens before he signs, the better.

‘So for me it’s absolutely crucial that I am extremely involved in the process, even though we have really good people to help me with that.’

Motherwell remain hopeful that Welsh will complete a season-long loan despite Celtic recalling him earlier this month.

‘We started to look elsewhere from the day they called him back because we know that there’s a 50 per cent chance that he will come back,’ Askou said.

‘Our centre-back’s job profile is quite specific. So it’s about identifying the right one and it’s not easy for us. The best one we have is Stephen Welsh.

‘The dialogue with Celtic is still good and open. Besides that, it’s a question for Celtic more.’