Rangers ready to listen to Birmingham City over Boyd transfer

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 18:26

RANGERS tonight confirmed they are prepared to sell top scorer Kris Boyd to Birmingham.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League giants have rejected a bid of around 3million for the 25-year-old from the Coca-Cola Championship club but will accept an improved offer.

Boyd is coveted by former Rangers boss Alex McLeish, who wants him to boost his current side's strike force at St Andrews.

Ibrox chairman Sir David Murray told BBC Scotland: "Birmingham have made an enquiry. We talked about money but we haven't agreed a fee and no business will be done today.

"We rejected a bid of around 3million but if they improve it, we'll allow them to speak to Kris Boyd."

The Light Blues rejected a 2.5million offer from Cardiff before the season started, but reports claim Birmingham will succeed with an offer worth up to 4million.

Boyd has been Rangers' top scorer for three consecutive seasons, including the 2005-06 campaign, despite joining the club on January 1.

He has scored 91 goals for the Ibrox side despite struggling to become a regular starter under Paul Le Guen and Walter Smith.

However, he has enjoyed a lengthy run in the first team this season, especially after quitting the Scotland set-up as he struggled to impress George Burley.

Boyd has netted 20 goals this term from a total of 20 starts and three substitute appearances.

He quickly formed a productive partnership with Kenny Miller, and Smith has made the former Scotland team-mates his automatic first-choice pairing.

Rangers have already sold Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville this season, while summer signings Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty have failed to make a major impact on the first team.

However, the Rangers manager is keen to offload players to bring in fresh blood and described Boyd as an "enigma" earlier this season because his overall play struggles to match his goalscoring record.

He could become the second striker to leave Ibrox for the midlands this week after Alan Gow's agent revealed his client had reached a deal with Wolves.

The 26-year-old has been in talks with the Championship leaders since Rangers accepted an offer at the weekend.

His agent, Phil McTaggart, expects Gow to complete his switch later this week.

"Alan has agreed terms with Wolves after talks with the club," McTaggart told www.skysports.com.

"He has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal and the move will be completed pending a medical later this week.

"Alan has been impressed by the ambition of Wolves and is hoping to help them in their bid to win promotion to the Premier League."

Gow played just two games for Rangers – both cup ties against lower league opposition – after joining them from Falkirk on a free transfer in the summer of 2007.

However, he scored five goals in 17 matches in a successful loan spell at Blackpool this season, and Wolves manager Mick McCarthy moved quickly to sign Gow at the second attempt.

McCarthy had a bid for the former Clydebank and Airdrie forward rejected by Falkirk two years ago.