Nikica Jelavic’s father says Rangers striker is holding out for Liverpool move

LIVERPOOL have emerged as contenders to sign Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, with the player’s father claiming that Anfield is his son’s preferred destination.

With just nine days remaining of the transfer window, the interest in the forward looks set to intensify this week. Ally McCoist confirmed yesterday that talks had taken place between Rangers chairman Craig Whyte and his West Ham United counterpart David Sullivan but the Ibrox manager insisted he was unaware of interest from any other clubs after the Croatian was also linked with Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.

Jelavic featured in the Rangers side who fought back from behind to draw 1-1 with Aberdeen at Ibrox yesterday.

McCoist said: “I spoke to Craig today and I believe Craig had a conversation with David Sullivan. But Craig was very keen to point out that absolutely no offers had been made at all. I think it was just a pretty informal chat they had.”

On speculation linking the player with other clubs south of the border, he added: “That’s news to me, I’ve certainly not been told. The only team where there has been an indication of interest is West Ham.”

But Jelavic’s father has revealed his son is holding out for a move to Liverpool.

Philip Jelavic said: “Yes, we know about the interest of West Ham, and Queens Park Rangers. But Nikica has five or six clubs interested, including that of the great Liverpool. As for West Ham and QPR, I think that Nikica is more ambitious than that. I think it’s most likely that he will sign for Liverpool. But there are still a few days until the end of the transfer window, so we will wait and see.”

McCoist insists Rangers are looking for a lot more than the reported £6 million West Ham are prepared to bid for Jelavic, who moved to Ibrox for £4m in August 2010.

The Ibrox manager was non-committal about claims that he would try to sign Grant Holt of Norwich as a replacement. “With the greatest respect, he’s someone else player and if I did have interest I would phone Paul [Lambert] down at Norwich.”