RANGERS’ NEW MOVE FOR KYLE
BY MICHAEL GANNON RANGERS have reopened transfer talks with Hearts over Kyle Lafferty and are confident the striker will be on his way to Ibrox in the next 48 hours. Gers have been frustrated in their attempts to land the 30-year-old, left, after the Jambos knocked back a £200,000 bid last month and this week rejected a cash plus player offer, believed to involve Lee Wallace. Record Sport understands Tynecastle chiefs are holding out for £750,000 for the Northern Ireland international who
is out of contract at the end of the season. Gers are set to go back to the negotiating table and are convinced a deal can be thrashed out by the end of the week.
Steven Gerrard is keen to bolster his attack with just Alfredo Morelos and Umar Sadiq available but the Ibrox boss is set for a boost ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League clash with Maribor as Ryan Jack is set to get the all clear.
The 26-year-old has been out with concussion suffered in a nasty clash with Aberdeen’s Stevie May on the opening day of the Premiership. Jack is back in full training and will fly out with the squad today – along with fellow injury doubts Scott Arfield and Lassana Coulibaly.
They are expected to be passed fit despite limping out of the 2-0 win against St Mirren on Sunday, while Jon Flanagan is suspended and Borna Barisic cup-tied.
Gerrard admitted he was delighted Jack is back after an impressive start to the campaign.
He said: “Ryan is back in full training so assuming he gets through today and tomorrow he will be available for selection. It could be a huge boost because he’s in great form.”
Gerrard will also look to Coulibaly and Arfield to make their mark in Maribor as Gers aim to see out their 3-1 first-leg win.
He said: “Lassana has recovered quite well and we don’t think it is a big issue, we think it is more down to maybe fatigue.
“Scott was just rested at the weekend, he had two or three weeks out with his knee and we had to protect him.”
But Graham Dorrans’s tests with a specialist suggested his ankle injury may rule him out for months.
Meanwhile, Gers could miss out on loan target Jack Simpson after Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe admitted he needs the defender.
He said: “We don’t have great strength in depth beyond the 20 players I have available, so I’d be reluctant to lose anybody else.”