Kris Boyd reckons red-hot Rangers striker Hamza Igamane could be a transfer target for teams THIS MONTH while James McFadden believes Celtic could land an even BETTER version of Kieran Tierney than the player who left if he returns to Parkhead this month.

The January transfer window is set to ramp up with Tierney on the brink of a sensational return from Arsenal, who he joined from his beloved Hoops in a then Scottish record £25million deal in 2019, after the Gunners have decided against taking up the option of an extra year on the Scotland international.

Rivals Rangers are looking to strengthen and need to bolster their squad after falling 13 points behind in the Scottish Premiership but one shining light in an otherwise desperate season has been the form of Igamane who netted a hat-trick in Sunday’s thriller against Hibs. The Moroccan signed for just £1.7m and has already been linked with Everton.

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One man who was heavily linked with the Light Blues at the start of the season was Lawrence Shankland but he has been off the boil at Hearts this season. Boyd and McFadden sat down for the latest episode of the William Hill’s weekly SPFL preview The Warm-Up. Here’s what they had to say on three key issues.

Hamza Igamane

The Moroccan has been in blistering form and his treble in Leith was the first in the Scottish Premiership since May 2023.

Asked if it’s too early for teams to make a move in this window, Boyd said: “I don’t think there is a timeframe in terms of attracting interest - there’s no such thing. There’s a shortage of goal scoring strikers, that’s a fact. If you have someone regularly scoring then they will attract interest because that’s what happens in football.

"Someone thinks they will make their team better and if they have more money they will spend it. Strikers make the difference. He came in as a project player and it was maybe difficult to put him in and ask him to learn his trade because then you’re under pressure. If he had been thrown in it could have set him back and introducing him gradually was probably a good move..

McFadden added : “He’s the first choice because of the scoring form and his all-round play. There will be a dip, he’s a young player. Fans are right to be excited about him because it was mysterious when he came in. The Rangers manager said if they didn’t sign him when they did then they wouldn’t have been able to. But he’s really found the position as the No. 9 and is scoring goals.

Kieran Tierney

Boyd had two spells at Rangers and McFadden had the same at Everton and THREE at Motherwell and see no issue with Tierney returning.

McFadden: “It’s hard to go back to a club, especially if you have good memories or feel you shouldn’t have left or maybe have unfinished business. It’s difficult to say no. Kieran Tierney is a massive Celtic fan and loves the club, and it would have been in his mind to stay at Celtic forever but he had a great opportunity to go to Arsenal.

"He’s had a loan spell (at Real Sociedad) and struggled for fitness and the pull of going back to Celtic is difficult to reject. There’s no doubt he’ll have amazing offers but the feeling he’ll have to go back will overtake everything. Celtic have struggled at Champions League level but when he’s at his best he’s world class and he could be looking at potentially having an impact at that level. There’s a chance of Celtic getting a better version of Tierney than before.”

Boyd: “You’re looking at someone who is a massive Celtic fan and he’ll be looking at the boys he’s played with and trophies they’ve won and think ‘that could be me’. He should be in the prime of his career and if Celtic can get him back then it would be unbelievable business.”

Lawrence Shankland

The Scotland striker was hot property last season but has struggled this season. He is out of contract a the end of the campaign.

Boyd: “I don’t think anyone will come in for him in January. I imagine a few teams will ask the question in the summer but he’s injured and has had a poor season by his standards. Lawrence would be first to admit that. The team has struggled and the consequences of that is your main striker has struggled. He’ll hope to get back fit and score a few goals and I don’t think you can rule out him staying at Hearts.”