Rangers insist £9m bid was real

The Croatian striker was the subject of interest from an unnamed club hours before the window shut after the Scottish champions had previously rejected a bid of £6.5 million from Leicester. McCoist has admitted relief at retaining the services of one of his key players, who he credits with having a major role to play in Rangers winning the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title last season.

Asked if Jelavic was the subject of a £9 million bid, McCoist said: “There was certainly a bid that came in. I can’t say the exact figure but it was certainly in that region. I don’t know the exact figures to be honest, I was only interested in the fact that it was turned down. We are all delighted that Nikica hasn’t left and I speak for the supporters, the players and the management staff. It would have been a massive blow for us to lose Nikica but thankfully we haven’t.”

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell appeared to mock the reported big-money interest in Jelavic the following day when he said: “Well, last night we got a £29 million offer for [Gary] Hooper. From an unknown agent, from an unknown club, from another universe.”

Responding to those comments, McCoist said: “I’m over it. Peter was, I think, having a laugh and a joke. Who am I to say nobody is allowed to have a laugh and a joke?

“It’s absolutely fine. There are no problems at all with me with Peter’s comments.”

However, Rangers have been dealt a blow with the news that Jelavic is out of today’s SPL game at Dundee United after returning from international duty with Croatia with a knee injury.

McCoist said: “He won’t travel with us today. He is just feeling the effects of the international break and he’s not 100 per cent. We will give him another 48 hours and the doctor will have a look at him again on Sunday morning. We are hopeful it’s just a little bit of a knock, which it looks like at this moment in time. There is a little bit of puffiness but nothing major so I would be hopeful he will be involved in next week’s Old Firm game.”

Meanwhile, Rangers have taken Argentine midfielder Matias Abelairas on trial. The 26-year-old is a free agent following a spell with River Plate in his homeland.

He trained with the rest of the team yesterday and will spend next week with the Scottish champions.

McCoist said: “He is over for us to have a look at him. He came in last night. He is 26, left-sided, played with River Plate and he is obviously out of contract. We will have a look at him over the next week or so and he will be with us all week. It’s miles away from anything other than us having a look at him and him having a look at us.” It also emerged that John Fleck will remain at Rangers at least until January and fight for his place in the first team, while Kyle Hutton has joined Irn-Bru First Division side Partick Thistle on a three-month loan.

The Ibrox duo, both 20, thought they had sealed season-long loan moves to Sheffield United on transfer deadline day but were not registered with the English Football League in time. McCoist said: “John and Kyle had the opportunity to go to Sheffield United but unfortunately there was a problem with the paperwork.

“Because John has played for us already this season, he can only go to one club on loan because of the three-club rule so he is not going anywhere at the moment. John and I had a good chat and John is going to stay and hopefully fight his way into the team. We will review it again in January. The boys certainly have a future here.”

United could hand home debuts to loan signings Lauri Dalla Valle and Keanu Marsh-Brown, who both arrived from Fulham last month. Dalla Valle impressed in his debut against St Johnstone and, after scoring for Finland’s under-21s against Malta in midweek, Peter Houston believes he is ready to make his mark in the SPL.

He said: “Lauri came back from his under-21 game fine so he will be in contention, as will Keanu. He joined up with the boys this week and has looked good in training so far.”