Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

GREEK A TARGET FOR GERS

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PEDRO CAIXINHA has invited Hearts midfielder Alexandros Tziolis to be part of his Rangers revamp next season.

The Gers boss pulled the Greek internatio­nal into his office after Saturday’s 2-1 win at Ibrox and discussed the details of a move which would see the pair reunited after a spell working together at Panathinai­kos.

Caixinha has assembled a list of signing targets which also includes Ghana defender Rashid Sumaila but that deal looks in serious doubt after the Light Blues were told the player would command a sizeable transfer fee.

Tziolis fits the bill, however, as he’s available for free this summer when his current six-month deal in Edinburgh ends.

The 31-year-old would add some steel to a Rangers midfield which has been criticised for being lightweigh­t and lacking defensive steel.

Tziolis was part of Greece’s disastrous Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and arrived at Tynecastle on a six-month deal in January after being freed by PAOK Salonica and worked under Caixinha who was assistant boss at Panathinai­kos during 2007-08 season.

The news for the Portuguese isn’t good with regard to his bid to sign Ghana defender Rashid Sumaila, though.

It has emerged that Ibrox chiefs will have to fork-out a hefty transfer fee to land the 24-year-old after his Kuwaiti club claimed the centre-back is under contract for the next three years until 2020.

Caixinha admitted last week that he was monitoring Sumaila, who he had on loan at his former club in Qatar, Al-gharafa.

The defender was expected to be available on a free transfer with his deal at current club Qadsia SC expired.

But the Kuwati club are adamant that is NOT the case.

In a statement, they have claimed that Sumalia actually signed a new contract until 2020 just before he went on loan to Qatar.

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