Northern Stars – could any of these Scottish heavyweights attract English bids?

The January transfer window has opened up to give clubs the chance to bolsters their squads.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five players in Scotland who could attract interest.

Alfredo Morelos

The 22-year-old Rangers striker has scored 20 goals so far this season and gave the Celtic defence a torrid time in the Gers 1-0 win at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Colombia international can be hot headed at times but that did not dissuade Chinese side Beijing Renhe from making an £8million bid last year.

Gers boss Steven Gerrard said: “I’m expecting bids. He’s a top player, he’s scored 20 goals before the turn of the year. I expect him to go on and achieve 30. I’d be more surprised if there is no bids to be honest.”

While Morelos is key to Rangers’ Ladbrokes Premiership title hopes, could the Ibrox club, who racked up £14million losses last season, afford to knock back an increased offer?

Dedryck Boyata

The Celtic defender started the season under a cloud after a transfer row ended up with him ruling himself out of the Champions League exit to AEK Athens and a Europa League clash with FK Suduva.

The Parkhead club rejected a £9million bid from Fulham for the player.

When the 28-year-old returned for the home game against Hamilton he saw a supporters’ banner which read: “Boyata – Not Fit To Wear The Jersey”.

Boyata is out of contract in the summer and the struggling London club – or any other suitors – could now submit a much lower offer in January. Rodgers, however, may think he needs the player to make sure Celtic retain their title.

Jordan Jones

The 24-year-old Kilmarnock wide-man was reportedly the subject of a failed bid from Rangers last season and further interest in the summer.

Burnley and Swansea have has also been linked with the former Middlesbrough player, who joined Killie in 2016 and who has been a key player in the club’s resurgence under Steve Clarke.

Clarke joked that he will turn his phone off for four weeks of the January transfer window but admits the high-flying Ayrshire club will have to consider good bids for their players.

Lawrence Shankland

The 23-year-old Ayr United striker has lit up the Championship this season with a remarkable 28 goals so far to take the Honest Men into second spot in the table, three points behind Ross County.

The former Aberdeen forward, who had loan spells at Dunfermline, St Mirren and Morton, has been linked with Sunderland, Swansea  and both Old Firm clubs.

Glen Kamara

The 23-year-old Dundee midfielder, a Finland international, is out of contract in the summer and Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has already expressed interest.

He said: “I have always looked at Scottish football and he is a good player.

“He has had an up and down start to his career, but he is one of a number of Scottish lads we have looked at.”

The former Arsenal youngster has also been linked with Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian in the past and more recently with Swansea City.

Dundee are sitting at the bottom of the table and manager Jim McIntyre will be looking to add to his squad. The departure of Kamara could help that along.

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