Ibrox fears of losing goalkeeper

THE prospect of Rangers losing goalkeeper Allan McGregor next month is "a genuine concern", according to his Ibrox team-mate Lee McCulloch.

The former Wigan midfielder, who left the English Premier League to come to Scotland, accepts there is every possibility McGregor will head in the opposite direction when the January transfer window opens.

"(Gerard] Houllier came out at the weekend and admitted they (Aston Villa] had looked at him. It was only a matter of time before some did that and I'm sure other clubs are doing the same," says McCulloch of a keeper also recently reported to be interesting Birmingham City.

"As a player I hope we can keep hold of him because he's one of our best players. Having played down there myself, I don't see many better than him, down south included. It's possible someone could come in and offer him big bucks and Rangers big bucks and then there's a decision to be made. If he ends up going, life must go on.

"But he'd be a loss. He's been in great form, he's a top guy and a top goalie, he's good to have around the dressing-room and I'd be sad to see him go. I think the last two years he's come on to be one of the best goalkeepers Rangers have ever had."