Simunovic targets Celtic starting spot after Torino deal falls through

Jozo Simunovic vowed to fight for his place at Celtic after a transfer to Torino fell through.

Published 1st Sep 2016

Jozo Simunovic vowed to fight for his place at Celtic after a transfer to Torino fell through.

The 22-year-old Croatian defender has not played since January 23 after a knee problem cut short his injury-hit debut season at Parkhead, and the Italian club tried to renegotiate a fee with the Hoops after the player underwent a medical.

But the centre-back insisted the checks showed no problems and he will now compete for a place in Brendan Rodgers' team.

"I am ready to go back if the clubs cannot find an agreement," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "I just want to play football."

Celtic also failed to get Efe Ambrose off their books despite offers from Standard Liege and Rotherham but they loaned Saidy Janko to Barnsley 24 hours after bringing in West Brom right-back Cristian Gamboa.

Philippe Senderos signed a one-year deal with Rangers, who released Andy Murdoch, but there was more action at Scotland's Mar Hall training base than Glasgow's big two clubs on deadline day.

Chris Martin left Derby for Fulham while Ikechi Anya swapped Watford for Pride Park. Norwich striker Steven Naismith remained with the squad though as a potential move to Sunderland collapsed. Another Scotland international, Charlie Mulgrew, signed for Blackburn after being left out of the squad to face Malta following his exit from Celtic.

Aberdeen brought in Norwich's recent multi-million pound signing James Maddison on loan until January. The 19-year-old midfielder was in demand following his breakthrough at Coventry.

Motherwell were unexpectedly busy, selling Marvin Johnson to Oxford and using some of the cash to buy striker Ryan Bowman from Gateshead, while borrowing Luka Belic from West Ham.

Inverness signed Brad McKay and brought in 23-year-old Fulham midfielder Larnell Cole on loan, while Hearts offloaded Juanma Murcia on a season-long loan and will look to free agents for a new left midfielder.

St Johnstone signed Peterborough striker Joe Gormley on loan until January while Partick Thistle paid an undisclosed fee to Portsmouth for defender Adam Barton after Mathias Pogba left for Sparta Rotterdam.

Two defenders left Ross County - Chris Robertson terminated his contract by mutual consent while Scott Boyd became Kilmarnock's 16th summer signing after agreeing a season-long loan.

Dundee released 20-year-old Andrew Black but manager Paul Hartley is still looking for two players.

In the Championship, Dundee United fought off strong competition to sign Norwich midfielder Tony Andreu on loan, Dunfermline brought in former Rangers striker Nicky Clark from Bury on a two-year deal and Sam Stanton moved from Hibernian to Dumbarton on loan, while Morton rejected Doncaster's bid for Jai Quitongo.