Gers close to signing Nikica Jelavic

RANGERS are closing in on Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic, according to the Daily Record.

The 24-year-old Croatian scored twice in Rapid's Europa League win over Bulgarian side Beroe on Tuesday night but would only become cup-tied for Europe if he plays in the play-off round of the competition.

According to the Record, Rangers chief executive Martin Bain is prepared to increase the club's original bid of 2 million up front, with another 1 million in add-ons.

The paper reckons an additional 500,000 will be enough to secure the services of a player who has "set his heart on a move to Ibrox".

But a warning comes from the Sun: Everton are also keeping tabs on Jelavic.

The Sun also offers Aiden McGeady a helpful 20-point rough guide to Russia ahead of his potential move to Spartak Moscow.

Among the informational nuggets are the fact that McGeady could face an arduous 1,750-mile trip to the Siberian capital of Novosibirsk for an away match.

It also warns that Moscow is the most expensive city in the world so it's perhaps just as well the Celtic winger is negotiating a reported 45,000 a week contract. And that's after tax.