Boogie To Be Sold

[ian1964 10,409]

MADJID BOUGHERRA will be sold as soon as Rangers secure a replacement after the Algerian rejected a renewed offer to become one of the club�s highest earners by signing a lucrative contract extension.

 

It was hoped the defenderâ��s exit from Ibrox, most probably to Qatari champions Lekhwiya who are offering him a �£30,000-a-week tax-free, could be expedited if Anderlecht accepted a �£2.5m offer for Hungarian internationalist Roland Juhasz and personal terms were agreed with the 28-year-old.

 

However, that bid was firmly rejected by the Belgian club last night, a spokesperson describing the offer as ââ?¬Å?way belowââ?¬Â their valuation of Juhasz. ââ?¬Å?It is not enough for an experienced player like Roland. Rangers know our valuation for the player and they havenââ?¬â?¢t met it.

 

ââ?¬Å?We are not actively looking to sell Roland. Last season we extended his contract. He is one of our leaders and most experienced players. Itââ?¬â?¢s a token of respect for the player and the club for him to attract offers from other clubs. We are the biggest club in Belgium and we are not surprised other clubs are looking at him.ââ?¬Â

 

Herman Van Holsbeek, Anderlechtâ��s director of football, has stated he believes the player is worth closer to �£4m.Kyle Bartley, on another loan from Arsenal, and former Ibrox centre-back Carlos Cuellar, meanwhile, remain options.

 

At the same time, a �£1.5m offer for Wesley Verhoek, the winger who has attracted attention after excellent displays for Dutch club Ado Den Haag, was also submitted and Rangers were last night awaiting responses. Rangers have also confirmed that they have taken David Odonkor, the former German international winger, on trial.

 

The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving Real Betis, who he joined in 2006. Odonkor flew into Glasgow on Wednesday night and will spend ââ?¬Å?the next few daysââ?¬Â training at Murray Park, the club announced on their official website.

 

Meanwhile, Herald Sport understands that Bougherra met chairman Craig Whyte and McCoist after last Saturdayâ��s 1-1 draw against Hearts at Ibrox. Whyte made it clear that he would sanction an improved contract in the same bracket agreed recently with Allan McGregor and Steven Davis, but the 28-year-old intimated a desire to leave. This will happen when Rangers sign another centre-back and when an offer in excess of the �£2m already bid is received, most likely after next Wednesdayâ��s Champions League qualification match against Malmo in Sweden.

 

Central defence is causing McCoist concern ahead of that tie. Captain David Weir is likely to miss out with a hamstring strain; Bougherraâ��s state of mind could prove an issue; and new signing Dorin Goian, the Romanian signed on Monday from Palermo for around �£750,000, is ineligible.

 

It had been hoped that Uefa would clear him after receiving the necessary paperwork before the 11pm signing deadline on Monday.

 

But a spokesman in Nyon confirmed yesterday he would not be able to play as the accession card needed by Romanians to work in the UK was not included with the submitted documents. The card should come through in time for Goian to make his debut against St Johnstone in the league tomorrow.

 

McCoist, therefore, will likely have to field Bougherra, and either Sasa Papac, Lee Wallace or Kirk Broadfoot as his central defensive partner in Sweden.

 

A �£400,000 offer to Orebro to release Alejandro Bedoya before the end of August is still on the table. Rangers have already signed the winger on a pre-contract, but will not raise that sum. There remains a belief within Ibrox that they will take the money rather than pay the player for the next four months when he has committed to go elsewhere.

 

Rangers� pursuit of David Goodwillie moved no further forward yesterday.

 

The Herald

[Gribz 743]

I cant keep up with the amount of players we are linked especially ones that deals are almost struck yet with no conclusion.

 

However once the Goian work permit is done and one other defender is signed then we should bite the money for Bougherra. Ive always wanted him to stay but if he feels a move to Qatar advances his football then cheerio. I'll give him 5 months before he is begging for a move back to the UK.

[Guest Dutchy]

We should just sell him - he doesn't want to be here - and use the money towards the Anderlecht guys transfer!!!