Rangers will be made to wait in quest to sign striker Nikica Jelavic

Rangers have made a reported bid for the 24-year-old Croatia international striker who scored twice in Tuesday's 3-0 Europa League qualifying win over Bulgarian side Beroe.

The Austrian club are believed to be looking for around double that fee, but the Ibrox side will have to wait another 24 hours to see if a deal can be struck.

"There will be no outcome today as our sporting director will not be back until tomorrow," a Rapid spokesman said last night. "This will be discussed at a board meeting tomorrow morning."

Rangers may have to wait until after the Europa League play-off round if they are to land their man. The games are scheduled for 19 and 26 August, a few days before the transfer window closes, and Rapid may want to keep the player at least until then.

Jelavic, however, has declared he wants to move to Ibrox. He said yesterday: "I am very happy because I scored two goals to help Rapid eliminate Zagora. However, at the same time I am ready to take on a new challenge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the move materialises. I have always dreamed of playing in Britain and this is my big chance. I hope Rapid will grant me this favour in return for my goals and my endless fight for the club."

Rangers manager Walter Smith is also looking at Honduras striker Georgie Welcome on trial this week.

Meanwhile, Ibrox midfielder Steven Davis admits he misses playing in the Premier League.

The Northern Ireland international joined Smith's side from Fulham in 2008 in a 3m move after a successful loan spell at the club he supported as a schoolboy. Davis, 25, is one of Rangers' most saleable assets and his revelation will do little to calm the nerves of Light Blues fans who have already seen six players leave the cash-strapped club this summer.

The former Aston Villa midfielder, preparing for Saturday's friendly against Newcastle United at Ibrox, insists the solution to his frustrations would be for the Old Firm to move to England - but accepts that is an unlikely scenario. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss playing Premier League-standard teams every week and it would be hard not to miss it," said Davis, who has been recently linked with Everton.

"Without being disrespectful to the SPL, I think everybody connected with Rangers would like nothing more than to be taking on sides of that calibre all the time.

"That's why we find our pre-season games against the big English sides so enjoyable. It's a real opportunity for us to show what we're capable of.

"Sadly, I think that's all we'll be able to settle for because as much as I'd love to see us move to the Premier League, I don't think it will ever happen.

"There are pros and cons attached to the argument about whether us and Celtic should be allowed to join it or not. For our club to keep progressing and making the strides we'd like to make, I think we'd perhaps need to be part of the Premier League but I just don't see it happening.

"Because of that, we need to make sure we keep qualifying for the Champions League instead. Taking part in that competition is such a big draw when you're at Rangers.

Davis has also spent most of his time at Ibrox playing wide on the right as opposed to his favoured central midfield position. With Kevin Thomson leaving for Middlesbrough, Davis will revert back to the middle, but he knows his versatility may cost him if manager Smith brings in another central midfielder.

But Davis told Rangers News: "I'm not worried about that, not at all. If I have to play on the right, I'll play on the right and it's not a big deal.

"The way things are looking just now, it looks as though I'll be put in the middle this season but I know how quickly things can change."