Soren Larsen, Steve Banks

[pete 2,494]

Larsen agent in Ibrox talks over possible �£1.4m move

 

Rangers have been offered Soren Larsen, the Danish international striker, as a potential replacement for Daniel Cousin.

 

Larsen is available for �£1.4m from the German side, Schalke 04, and his agent, Ivan Marko Benes, met with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain yesterday to discuss a possible move for the 6ft 4in centre-forward.

 

Rangers have also been linked with a move for the Hearts goalkeeper, Steve Banks, after Derby County reached agreement to take Roy Carroll to Pride Park.

 

Paul Jewell, the Derby manager, had hoped to have the Northern Ireland goalkeeper at training this morning, but Walter Smith was only willing to sanction the transfer if he had another back-up to Allan McGregor in place.

 

"The chairman has spoken to his agent and Walter Smith and hopefully we can get that one over the line today or tomorrow," said Jewell. "If he comes, Roy Carroll is a top-class goalkeeper."

 

Banks has reclaimed his first-choice status at Tynecastle after the recent failed experiments with Eduardo Kurskis and Anthony Basso.

 

Hearts caretaker manager Steven Frail is reluctant to lose the Englishman, who also doubles as goalkeeping coach, but moving to Rangers would be more lucrative for him.

 

Benes left Bain with a DVD of Larsen's scoring feats for club and country in an attempt to expedite a deal. Rangers are in the market for a centre-forward regardless of Cousin's future but while no deal is imminent, Larsen fits the bill.

 

He scored six goals in his five international matches for Denmark two years ago and has been nicknamed Die Waffe - The Weapon - for his prowess alongside his countryman and former Rangers attacker, Peter Lovenkrands, in the Bundesliga. He has scored 17 goals in 55 starts but wants a new challenge.

 

He would cost around �£1m per year in wages but his physical prowess is ideally suited to the rigours of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and FC Copenhagen have already enquired about the 26-year-old - who was linked with a move to Celtic in August 2006 - but Larsen has no intention of returning home to Denmark.

 

Smith was at the Emirates Stadium last night on a scouting mission at the Carling Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Bolton and Middlesbrough have been alerted to Cousin's situation. Rangers are confident they can keep the striker, who signed a three-year deal in August, at least until the end of the season but may find a bid of around �£3m irresistible.

[Gazza_8 233]

According to SSN we've made a �£1.4 bid for Soren Larsen nicknamed The Weapon. What a cool nickname!

 

I wonder who Smith was watching at the Arsenal Spurs game, Berbatov perhaps?

 

How good is our scouting network by the way?

 

Benes left Bain with a DVD of Larsen's scoring feats for club and country in an attempt to expedite a deal

[Gribz 743]

I often use the nickname Weapon for myself

 

Stevie Banks though??!! But of a surprise there although may be a decent stop gap

[Jon 0]

I often use the nickname Weapon for myself

 

Stevie Banks though??!! But of a surprise there although may be a decent stop gap

 

Aye....Limp Weapon !!!

 

Banks Im not sure about either though, cant even see that we'd need him as a goalkeeping coach as we have one. I'd rather an EPL reserve keeper tbh who has promise and potential but isnt getting a chance

[Gazza_8 233]

Aye....Limp Weapon !!!

 

Banks Im not sure about either though, cant even see that we'd need him as a goalkeeping coach as we have one. I'd rather an EPL reserve keeper tbh who has promise and potential but isnt getting a chance

 

If a young EPL keeper came up here for matches and experience he still wouldn't get a chance because he'd be backup to McGregor.

[juffery 0]

I have no idea if Banks is any good, can't ever remember seeing him do anything I've thought good or bad.

[alanmidd 0]

He's a decent keeper and will be a good back up. He'll save on wages too.

 

Any reports of a fee for Carrol?

[juffery 0]

He's a decent keeper and will be a good back up. He'll save on wages too.

 

Any reports of a fee for Carrol?

 

as far as I know it's a free transfer.

[alanmidd 0]

fuck sake, 15 grand a week for 6 months then he pisses off for nowt.

 

Great bit of business

[ascender 352]

The Carrol transfer suited all parties. He got a chance to knuckle down, get fit and challenge for a place while we got someone to put some pressure on McGregor. Good luck to Carrol, he never got his chance here, but reserve keeper is always a bit of a strange position to fill.

 

Banks looks OK from what I've seen. He's been treated like shit recently by Romanov, but most Jambos rated him when he was playing regularly.