Robbie Fowler wants to sign for Rangers this summer and score the goals that would take them into the Champions League next season.
The 32-year-old striker is a free agent after being released by Liverpool at the end of the last campaign. He has also been linked with moves to Celtic and LA Galaxy, but it has now emerged that his heart is set on a move to Ibrox.
The former Liverpool and Leeds United striker has had an affinity with Rangers since his boyhood hero, Trevor Steven, moved from Everton to Ibrox in 1992. He has been linked with a move north of the border on several occasions and the move could now finally materialise. It is understood that he would fall within the club's wage structure.
A representative of the player said last night: "Robbie wants to play for Rangers. It would be ideal for him. He wants to come and add medals to his collection. It would be a major boost for the fans.
"Commercially, it would also be beneficial in terms of the number of strips they would sell. He could also score the goals that would qualify them for the Champions League. The signing would pay for itself.
"Money wages is not an issue. He wants to come to Rangers and he wants to win medals. That is the issue."
Rangers are understood to be keen to strike a deal, though they harbour reservations about his age. Fowler, who was in Scotland earlier this week playing golf, turned 32 in April, though one of Rangers' pre-season captures, French striker Jean-Claude D'Archeville, is also 32 next month.
Any move for Fowler, who made 23 appearances for Liverpool last season and scored seven goals may hinge on the club's ability to secure other signing targets. They are currently in discussions with PSV Eindhoven in a bid to sign DaMarcus Beasley, the 25-year-old winger who scored twice for the United States in a 4-0 win over El Salvador in the Gold Cup yesterday.
It is understood that a fee of around £700,000 has been agreed and the move could be finalised imminently. Rangers are also in talks with Osasuna defender Carlos Cuellar, while they could step up their pursuit of Steven Naismith over the next week.
The Ibrox club have had a £400,000 bid for the player rejected by Kilmarnock and have yet to return with an improved offer. Celtic have also enquired about the 20-year-old, while an unnamed English club have also had a bid of £1.7m rejected.
Kilmarnock have stated their intention to sit down with Naismith and negotiate improved terms to offset any potential loss of earnings he may incur should he remain at Rugby Park beyond the summer.
Michael Johnston, the Ayrshire club's chairman, said negotiations with their prized asset were not an urgent priority. "Steven is still on holiday," he said. "The squad will be coming back at the end of June for pre-season training, so we might wait until then."
Meanwhile, Rangers have dropped their interest in Adda Djeziri, writes Mark Wilson.
The 18-year-old Danish forward, part of the double-winning Under-19 squad last season, moved to Ibrox in January on loan from Frem BK, with the option to make the deal permanent for a fee in the region of £100,000. However, it seems Rangers have decided they have better options within the crop of homegrown talent at Murray Park.
"Adda is back in Denmark and I expect that he will play for Frem next season," said Hans Hermansen, Frem's sporting director. "I don't think Rangers will come back in for him. Our understanding is that they have decided not to offer him a contract."
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