HERMANN HREIDARSSON last night told Walter Smith: I can be a Champions League star for you.

The Iceland defender broke his silence to confirm he is interested in quitting Portsmouth for Ibrox.

The 34-year-old insists Gers haven’t yet tabled an offer and that in any event he’s waiting to hear who the new Pompey boss is and what he’s got to say.

But with the clock ticking on his career the veteran, who’s won 54 caps, admits he’s captivated by the lure of the Champions League.

He said: “I would be interested but as yet nothing’s been offered – as least nothing concrete.

“I’m still waiting on Portsmouth to appoint a new manager. I will have a word with him and see what he’s got to say. But I would look upon the Scottish League as a good, new challenge for me.

“Rangers would be a good club for any player to move to especially when they have the Champions League coming up next season.”

17.45 Blackpool have beaten the transfer deadline to sign Charlie Adam on loan from Rangers.

-SSN

10.44 Reports in Russia suggest that Spartak Moscow’s Austrian international defenderMartin Stranzl is on the verge of a move to Britain, with Glasgow Rangers and Fulham identified as probable destinations.
-Sky Sports Clockwatch

GLASGOW Rangers’ Alan Gow has today signed on loan for the Canaries for the rest of the season.
Source

8.43 Bayer Leverkusen are being linked with a move for Rangers striker Kris Boyd after Theofanis Gekas was allowed to move to Portsmouth.
-Sky Sports Transfer Watch

David Healy’s £1m move to Rangers was a step closer last night after the Glasgow giants admitted they were willing to cash in on their top scorer Kris Boyd.

The Ibrox club turned down a £3m offer for goal machine Boyd from English Championship club Birmingham City but they are expected to make an improved offer for the Scottish star in the coming days.

Boyd is understood to be keen on the move to St Andrews where he would team up with his former Rangers and Scotland boss, Alex McLeish.

Gers chairman David Murray is prepared to do business providing the price is right and boss Walter Smith last week admitted that every player had their price.

With Boyd seemingly heading for the exit door despite bagging 20 goals already this season, moves are afoot to bring Northern Ireland talisman Healy to Scotland.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed last week that the Sunderland hitman was being lined up for a loan move to the Light Blues but with Boyd’s imminent departure, the deal is now more likely to be a permanent one.

If Healy does sign on the dotted line for his boyhood heroes, he will make it a hat-trick of Northern Ireland stars at the Teddy Bears with Steven Davis and

Kyle Lafferty already in the squad.

Healy’s partnership with Lafferty could be the key to the move as they have already shown numerous occasions at international level they can score goals as a front pairing.

Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington angered Healy last year when he stated the record goal-scorer leave Sunderland to get first-team football for the good of his international career and a move to Rangers would certainly please all concerned.

As of last night Rangers had not been in contact with Sunderland or Healy but once the Boyd deal goes through communication between all parties will be on the cards.

Newcastle United are poised to test Rangers’ resolve by making a £4.5m bid for Madjid Bougherra. Sources in England claim that Joe Kinnear, the

Newcastle manager, is considering an additional move to take Barry Ferguson too, but any attempt to sign their captain will be rejected by Rangers.

Rangers are resigned to losing Bougherra but, while Ferguson has only 18 months left on his contract, Ibrox officials they will not countenance the sale of the 30-year-old midfielder, especially after the 1-0 Old Firm derby defeat at Ibrox which has left Walter Smith’s side seven points adrift of Celtic in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Herald understands that Martin Bain, the chief executive, was informed yesterday afternoon of Newcastle’s intentions by Bougherra’s agent, Charles Collymore. It is also believed that Marseille will follow up their initial enquiry and may be the more appealing option, despite Bougherra’s reiteration only last week that he had no intention of playing in Ligue 1.

Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, is aware of the potential backlash if Bougherra leaves six months after his £2.5m transfer from Charlton Athletic. Sanctioning the sale, even if Rangers double their investment, will be regarded by the beleaguered support as surrendering the championship. It is believed, though, that Rangers have already earmarked Christophe Berra, the Hearts captain, as a prompt replacement if Newcastle or Marseille make an irresistible offer.

Rangers are preparing themselves for official contact and the inevitability of another deeply unpopular exit at the worst possible time. The club were heavily criticised for encouraging the £9m transfer of Alan Hutton to Tottenham Hotspur last January, a move some supporters believe cost them the league. Bougherra was originally signed to partner Carlos Cuellar and facilitate the gradual phasing out of the 38-year-old David Weir but instead the 25-year-old replaced Cuellar, who joined Aston Villa in a £7.8m transfer. The similarities with Cuellar’s departure are now compelling. The Spaniard injured a calf muscle in pre-season and only returned to full fitness after completing his move to Villa Park.

Bougherra has missed Rangers’ last four games with a thigh strain. He is expected to make an overdue comeback against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday but, with a move beckoning, his chances of reappearing have diminished.

Kinnear is determined to plug a leaky defence and has been promised financial support by Mike Ashley, the chairman who has renewed his commitment at St James’ Park after an unsuccessful attempt to sell the club. Newcastle’s supporters will be wary of another central defender arriving from Scotland. Graeme Souness signed Jean-Alain Boumsong for £8m in January 2005 but the Frenchman endured a disastrous stay in England before joining Juventus on loan. Bougherra has at least sampled the rigours of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Pedro Mendes has also been linked with a reunion with Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur but selling another first-team asset would cause mutiny among the supporters.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were on the verge of completing a £250,000 transfer of Alan Gow. The striker was scheduled to return to Ibrox yesterday when his six-month loan deal with Blackpool ended but Mick McCarthy moved quickly to strengthen the Championship leaders’ promotion push.

Gow has been told he has no future at Rangers after only two first-team appearances and, despite his desire for a reprieve, he is now expected to join forces with the Scotland internationalist, Chris Iwelumo, at Molineux.

Rangers have declined the chance to sign Hermann Hreidarsson. The 34-year-old Portsmouth defender is available for a nominal fee but, while Smith is an admirer of the player, he is in the market for a younger defender.

Bain is also under pressure to move on the squad surplus that is draining around £80,000 per week from the club. Jean-Claude Darcheville’s move to Valenciennes has freed-up £20,000 per week while Hearts are expected to re-sign striker Andrius Velicka.

Rangers are keen to offload Brahim Hemdani, one of the club’s highest earners, and will also listen to offers for Graeme Smith, Chris Burke, Charlie Adam and DaMarcus Beasley.

RANGERS boss Walter Smith will have to unload as many as SIX top-team players to cobble together enough cash to make a New Year swoop for Portuguese defender Tonel.

Smith is a huge admirer of the 28-year-old centre-half who first caught his eye last season playing against Rangers for Sporting Lisbon on the Ibrox side’s march to the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester.

And sources in Lisbon believe Portugal international Pedro Mendes is playing a key role in helping Smith persuade Tonel to set up a new life in Scotland despite interest from Lazio and Panathinaikos.

But before Smith can table a serious offer he will have to carry out the second part of a mass cull ordered by chairman Sir David Murray back in August following the humiliating European exit at the hands of Lithuanian minnows Kaunas.

We (Daily Record) revealed back then Smith had been told to chop at least half a dozen big earners from his squad.

But although he sold Carlos Cuellar and Daniel Cousin and arranged loan deals for Alan Gow and Andy Webster, Smith used the money he raised to bring in Mendes, Steve Davis, Maurice Edu and Aaron.

Now he has been instructed to make further cuts which means Smith will be open to offers for the likes of Brahim Hemdani, DaMarcus Beasley, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Chris Burke, Christian Dailly, Stevie Smith and possibly Lee McCulloch.

Ironically, McCulloch has recently emerged as a potential defensive option for Smith who believes the ex-striker has all the attributes needed to make a new career as a stopper.

If Smith cannot get enough cash together to go for Tonel he is likely to hold on to McCulloch even though Premiership outfit Stoke remain serious about taking the 30-year-old south in January.