|
by Darrell King
WALTER SMITH hopes to clear the decks for a summer transfer assault by shipping out misfits Libor Sionko, Filip Sebo and Karl Svensson.
The Rangers boss - who is believed to be close to securing two new signings - will not stand in the way of the trio brought to Ibrox by Paul Le Guen for a total of £2.4million.
Several clubs have already made enquiries, with St Etienne keen on Sionko and Austria Vienna retaining an interest in taking Sebo back.
If Rangers could recoup the transfer fees spent on them a year ago - and free up their combined wages of around £35,000-a-week - Smith would be able to use the cash for the players he has identified for next season.
And high-earning Belgian forward Thomas Buffel, who is now close to completing his rehab after tidy-up knee surgery in February, is also likely to leave. His price will be set around the £1.5m mark.
The Gers boss has so far secured Jean-Claude Darcheville, Kirk Broadfoot and Alan Gow on Bosmans for next season.
But he is now getting ready to spend after months of intensive spying missions involving his entire backroom staff.
As SportTimes revealed on Wednesday, Osasuna defender Carlos Cuellar is a major target and Smith will sanction the £2m required to land the 25-year-old no-nonsense stopper.
The Spaniards, however, have four matches of their season to go and have still to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Initial talks between the parties concerned are likely to start again next month when Osasuna are safe.
Smith is also keen on two of the SPL's best young players - Hibs full-back Steven Whittaker and Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith.
It could cost around £2.5m to sign both, but with the likelihood of good residual value Gers know that could be good business.
Wigan duo Lee McCulloch and Andy Webster will also move north on permanent deals in the next few weeks for a combined fee of around £1.8m.
So Smith is preparing himself for a major summer turnaround in players. It is not inconceivable that eight or nine players could leave, with as many as another seven new faces coming in on top of the three players signed so far.
The Rangers fans - disappointed at seeing Scott Brown go to Celtic this week - are anxious to see some decent investment in a squad that has won nothing for two years.
A club source said today: "We will be spending significant money in the transfer market this summer. The manager has now identified most of the players he wants and talks are on-going with several clubs and players.
"The manager had a valuation for Scott Brown and felt that it was a fair price for someone in the Scottish market. But there are several other players who money will be spent on."
However, Gers have no interest in Lokomotiv Moscow striker Garry O'Connor, or Liverpool's Robbie Fowler. |