Summer Transfer thread - fun while it lasted!

[metlika 0]

[ian1964 10,455]

Rangers are lining up Anderlecht defender Roland Juhasz — as Qatar champions Lekhwiya refuse to give up on luring Madjid Bougherra from Ibrox.

 

The SPL champions have followed up an initial �£1.5million inquiry for the Hungarian international with further talks.

 

If Ally McCoist lands Juhasz, it would clear the path for Bougherra to exit for the Middle East, as Rangers would be unlikely to turn down a near-�£3m bid for a player with only 11 months remaining on his contract.

 

Bougherra, who has been swayed by the prospect of Ã?£35,000-per-week tax-free wages in Qatar, is still required for next week’s Champions League qualifying second leg with Malmo in Sweden, because there is a major question mark over the eligibility of new Ibrox arrival Dorin Goian.

 

Rangers registered the Romanian before the signing deadline on Monday but had to wait for a work permit. Red tape continues to hinder his availability and Sportsmail understands the Ibrox hierarchy have asked the SFA to assist in their bid to have Goian cleared for Malmo.

 

With the entire issue now being passed to UEFA, the European body seem set to find against Rangers. If Goian is ruled out, McCoist will have to do without the towering Romanian next midweek for the tie that will determine his side’s Champions League fate.

 

Aggregate defeat in Sweden would see Rangers drop into the final round of Europa League qualifying and the manager, looking longer-term, would hope to have Goian and Juhasz in place by then as a new central-defensive partnership, particularly as 41-year-old captain David Weir is unlikely to play on beyond the end of this season.

 

Lekhwiya want the Bougherra transfer completed as soon as possible and it is understood they will try to tempt the Ibrox hierarchy with another bid next week after a first offer of �£2.5m was rejected.

 

The Qatar club’s manager Djamel Delmadi said: ‘We are very ambitious for the new season. We are the champions and, as such, have to act like champions — and that means strengthening our squad.

 

‘We play in the Asian Champions League this season, too, so we need new players.’

 

While Rangers are still interested in bringing Carlos Cuellar back to Ibrox from Aston Villa and a second loan deal for Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley, the arrival of Juhasz would be welcome.

 

The 28-year-old has a fine reputation in Belgium and has 63 caps for Hungary, as well as Champions League experience. Anderlecht want more than �£1.5m but talks are ongoing.

 

Rangers also remain in the hunt for Dundee United striker David Goodwillie as they wait to see if English clubs make a move for the Tannadice starlet.

 

Meanwhile, Den Haag wide man Wesley Verhoek was the subject of interest but, with other clubs now bidding, McCoist is looking at other options for that position, especially now that Steven Davis is looking even more influential in a central role.

 

Davis took the armband when Weir went off with an injury against Malmo and the Northern Ireland cap refused to blame the late-July nature of the fixture as the reason for a poor result.

 

‘I think that’s the easy option to take and we’re not going to use that as an excuse,’ said Davis.

 

‘We have given ourselves an uphill struggle now.

 

‘In the second half, they sat back and we had a lot of possession. We created a few chances but it just wasn’t to be for us. It was not the result we were looking for and, of course, everybody is disappointed. But we’ll go over there and try to progress.

 

‘If we get a goal, then everything will look a bit brighter.’

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2019580/Rangers-want-Roland-Juhasz.html?

[ian1964 10,455]

KYLE BARTLEY is on the verge of rejoining Rangers on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

 

SunSport understands Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has finally given his approval to under-pressure Ally McCoist to land stopper Bartley.

 

It's understood the player and Ibrox boss McCoist are now confident a deal will be agreed within 72 hours.

 

Bartley, 20, played a starring role for Gers in the Europa League last season before suffering a medial ligament injury on the eve of the Co-op Cup final against Celtic last March.

 

He's now fit again and made a playing comeback for Arsenal reserves three weeks ago.

 

McCoist has never lost interest in Bartley and kept in constant touch with him.

 

Not even the �£800,000 capture of Romanian defender Dorin Goian put him off Bartley.

 

McCoist's need for further cover at the back was underlined by the hamstring injury suffered by skipper Davie Weir in the 1-0 Champions League qualifying defeat to Malmo on Tuesday.

 

Meanwhile, Gers are set to lose out on Wesley Verhoek after Dutch club Den Haag slapped a �£2.6million price tag on his head.

 

Boss McCoist launched a �£1m bid for the highly-rated winger as SunSport revealed.

 

But that offer falls way short of Den Haag's valuation with any deal now hanging in the balance.

 

SunSport understands Verhoek - currently in Cyprus ahead of Den Haag's Europa League qualifier against Omonia tonight - is aware of Rangers' interest.

 

The 24-year-old has a year left on his contract and has told friends he'd jump at the chance of a move to Ibrox.

 

But the SPL champs will need to significantly improve their offer as Alex McLeish's Aston Villa are also trailing Verhoek.

 

The Sun

[ian1964 10,455]

CELTIC are prepared to hijack Rangers' move for Dundee United star David Goodwillie.

SunSport understands Hoops manager Neil Lennon has asked to be kept informed of the �£2million-rated striker's situation.

Ibrox gaffer Ally McCoist is desperate to sign 22-year-old Goodie but has had two bids rejected.

Premier League outfit Wigan and Championship side Blackpool are also in the hunt. But Lenny has quietly been tracking the Scotland star.

United are adamant they won't accept a penny less than �£2million for their biggest asset who has just had rape charges against him dropped.

And that price may yet scare off Parkhead chief Lennon who is as keen as McCoist to bolster his attacking options.

Last night Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston bid �£1.6million plus add-ons for Goodwillie but that offer was rejected by Arabs owner Stephen Thompson.

[Craigy1881 79]

Good work lads . Looks like the goodwille saga will be over soon one way or another. Hope we get all there players.

 

will not be a happy bunny if we lose goodwille to them. Not sure where the cash is coming from them because so far this year they have been about as tight as a ducks arse with cash.

[Gers4Life 0]

Will not be happy either if we lose goodwillie to them! But we really don't have any excuses in not just putting the money down to get goodwillie! But why the hell do they need another striker ffs... If we get into a bidding war with Celtic I fear we may end up being the losers!

[Gribz 743]

Still not fussed either way for Goodwillie more so because I havent seen enough of him to think he is a top player. The defence is stil the one that needs sorted out and even if we linked with a few more centre halfs they have to hit the ground running. Thats what I like the Bartley deal more as there is no settling in period.

[der Berliner 3,290]

Yesterday Lennon wanted to hijack Murphy, today it is Goodwillie. Some of our support bemoaned the lack of scouts we had pre McCoist. It looks these days as if we do the donkey work for them. Well well.

[Stefanovitch 0]

In: Goodwillie �£2m, Verhoek �£2m, Cuellar �£2m, Juhasz �£2m, Bartley (loan �£500k+)

 

Out: Bougherra �£3m

 

Net spend: �£5.5m

[der Berliner 3,290]

I doubt that we will sign Verhoek. He will cost in excess of 2m too - according to latest reports - and we won't pay that. Remember, we've already got Ortiz, Kerkar, Wylde, Naismith, Lafferty and if need be Wallace for the left wing. And unless I am mistaken, he is a left winger.