One week to go: Old Firm home in on imports

THIS time next week, clubs across the country will be counting down the hours to the close of the January transfer window. As ever in Scottish football, much of the focus will be on potential business conducted by the Old Firm clubs.

Dominating the agenda for champions Rangers, whose need for fresh faces is clearly far greater than that of current SPL leaders and title favourites Celtic, is the possible sale of leading goalscorer Nikica Jelavic.

Liverpool, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion have all been strongly linked with a move for the Croatian international striker. He is valued at around £8 million by Rangers owner Craig Whyte, double the fee Rangers paid Rapid Vienna for him 18 months ago, and it remains to be seen whether the Ibrox club can cash in the player to the extent they would like.

If Jelavic does move on during this window, Rangers manager Ally McCoist will hope the freeing up of another wage will allow him to secure a replacement as he scours the trialist marketplace against the backdrop of the forthcoming tribunal verdict on HMRC’s tax case against the club. Rangers have already managed to sign Swedish under-21 international attacking midfielder Mervan Celik.

Across the city, Celtic manager Neil Lennon enjoys greater financial wherewithal but seems relatively content with the existing strength and depth of his squad.

Having already signed Swedish full-back Mikael Lustig and Nigerian midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim this month, Lennon does remain keen to add another striker to his arsenal. As relaxed as he is about the closing week of the window, Lennon has also not discounted the possibility of an incoming transfer from “left field”.

Here are some of the potential and speculated targets for the SPL title combatants over the next eight days.

RANGERS

GRANT HOLT

The Norwich City club captain was suggested at the weekend as a possible replacement for Nikica Jelavic should Rangers sell their top scorer. Ally McCoist played down the report and while any interest in Holt would be understandable, the 30-year-old is likely to be outwith the Ibrox club’s salary budget.

Although he has not been a regular starter for Norwich this season, Holt has remained a valuable contributor for Paul Lambert’s side on their hugely impressive return to the English Premier League.

ZLATAN MUSLIMOVIC

A free agent since leaving Greek club PAOK Salonika last year, Muslimovic started a week-long trial with Rangers yesterday. The 30-year-old Bosnian international striker may represent a more affordable option for McCoist as he seeks to plug the gap which would be left by Jelavic’s departure.

ENAR JAAGER

The Estonian international right-back impressed McCoist in a closed-doors friendly at Murray Park last week and the Rangers manager is keen to sign the free agent. But that may also be dependent on the sale of Jelavic, or offloading of any other players, in order to facilitate a wage for Jaager who is seen as ideal cover for injured right-back Steven Whittaker.

JORGE CLAROS

The Honduran midfielder, an international team-mate of Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre, is on trial at Murray Park for a second week. The 26-year-old has expressed his enthusiasm for a move to Rangers and would be free to leave his current club Motagua if McCoist pursues a deal.

LUIGI BRUINS

The former Netherlands under-21 internationalist midfielder began a week’s trial at Murray Park yesterday and could feature in a closed-doors friendly match today. Now age 24, Bruins played at a good level with Feyenoord and is a free agent after leaving Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg last month.

CELTIC

JORGE MOLINA

The Real Betis striker has been strongly linked with Celtic, although his agent has denied knowledge of a possible move. Molina appears to fit the bill as the experienced and powerful front man Lennon is seeking. The 29-year-old Spaniard is valued at around £2 million by Betis.

JAROSLAW FOJUT

The Polish central defender has already signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic in June but Lennon has not completely ruled out the prospect of accelerating the move. Any attempt to secure the 24-year-old former Bolton player this month would be dependent on agreeing a fee with his current club Slask Wroclaw who are leading the Polish League at the moment.

JORDAN RHODES

Huddersfield Town’s prolific Scottish international striker, who scored his 28th goal of the current campaign at the weekend, has been persistently linked with Celtic, along with a host of English clubs. But Huddersfield have already rejected a £4 million bid from West Ham for a player they insist will not be sold during the current window.

DAYLON CLAASEN

The South African midfielder, who plays in Belgium for Lierse, was reported to be on Lennon’s radar last week. But QPR are believed to be favourites to sign the 21-year-old.

YANN KERMORGANT

Lennon’s attendance at a recent Charlton Athletic match linked him with their 30-year-old French striker but the Celtic manager has played down reports of his interest in signing the former Leicester City man this month.