Danny Shittu: Rangers will have pay big for Watford defender

Published on Saturday 24 May 2008 19:47

RANGERS will have to be prepared to pay "big money" to persuade Watford to part with hulking centre-back Danny Shittu, according to the Championship club's coach Malky Mackay.

However, the former Celtic defender, who will this afternoon feature in the Phil O'Donnell tribute game for his old club in front of a 60,000 crowd also enticed by Henrik Larsson donning the hoops again, believe the 27-year-old Nigerian would be a perfect fit for the Ibrox club.

"He's under contract and it would be a big money signing," Mackay said.

"As far as how much, God knows. Whether the club would want to sell him or not I don't know but everyone has their price.

"He's a big strong aggressive lad and playing for his country regularly now. Shittu scored a lot of goals for us this year, many of them from set pieces, and is probably one of the finest headers of a ball I've seen. He is learning the game all the time, is powerful and probably ideal for Scottish football.

"If you saw him in the flesh you would not believe the size of the man. He's huge. I'd say he's even wider than Bobo Balde. He's wide as the Clyde."