RANGERS today stepped up moves to land Cardiff City defender Glenn Loovens.
SportTimes understands the 24-year-old Dutchman is now Walter Smith’s main target as he looks to bolster his backline.
Chief executive Martin Bain has once again opened talks with his counterpart Peter Ridsdale, and is trying to thrash out a deal that would allow the stopper to sign fbefore the August 7 signing deadline for the third round Champions League qualifiers – assuming Rangers reach that stage – and the beginning of the SPL two days later at Falkirk.
Cardiff said today they were still awaiting a firm offer for Loovens, who they value at £3million, even though he is now into the final year of his contract.
Rangers insiders claim Cardiff are constantly moving the goalposts on what they want for the player, and Bain will not match their valuation in the knowledge they can sign Loovens on a pre-contract in January and get him for nothing next summer.
Daniel Cousin – left out of the 0-0 draw with Kaunas – has once again been mentioned as a make-weight and is believed to be interested in going to Cardiff.
But his wages could be prohibitive, and there were suggestions from Wales today that taking the former Lens man on loan for a season could be part of a deal for Loovens.
Gers No.2 Ally McCoist and first-team coach Ian Durrant ran the rule over tLoovens in Portugal last week. And Smith believes he would be a good, long-term addition.
Loovens would not be able to play in next week’s second leg with Kaunas but, with Davie Weir banned for the SPL opener with Falkirk on August 9, he would go straight into the team.
Loovens moved to Cardiff from Feyenoord in 2005.
He has refused to sign a new three-year contract, but is also attracting the interest of Hull and Stoke.
Rangers’ performance last night has only heightened the need for new faces. Smith is aware he needs to add two or three players before the likes of DaMarcus Beasley and Chris Burke can return in the next few weeks.
He hopes to get a couple of players on board – one of which is likely to be Loovens – in the next few days.
Sunderland’s Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu remains an option. And, after closing in on Spurs star Steed Malbranque, Black Cats boss Roy Keane is willing to let Etuhu go for around £2m.
Evening Times