AS Saint-Etienne say they would not entertain any offers from Rangers for defender Carlos Bocanegra.
Contrary to reports on Tuesday, STV has learned the Ibrox club have not been in touch with the French side over the player.
The American defender is seen as a key figure at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and, speaking to STV, Saint-Etienne say that if Rangers were to make an approach, they would be told the 32-year-old is not for sale.
“We haven’t received any contact from Rangers,” a spokesman from the French club said. “The position of Saint-Etienne is clear. We want to keep Carlos.
“He is not available for transfer. We have a very young defence and we need Carlos to lead those players.
“If Rangers were to get in touch, we would tell them he is not for sale. The coach [Christophe Galtier] wants to keep Carlos.”
Able to play at either centre back or left back, Bocanegra has been in France since 2008, moving from Fulham to Rennes, before switching to Saint-Etienne in 2010.
He spent four years in England at Craven Cottage, having spent the first four years of his professional career with Chicago Fire, and made over 100 appearances in the English Premier League.
Bocanegra captained the United States national team since 2007, a role he continued in during the 2010 World Cup, when the US reached the second round before losing to Ghana.
Rangers have until 11pm on Wednesday night to register one additional player on List A for their Europa League play-off round matches with Maribor.
STV understands no approach has been made thus far to take defender Danny Wilson back on loan from Liverpool, with the player eligible to be included on the club's List B for the competition, which must also be submitted by 11pm on Wednesday night.
IN DETAIL
To leave a comment, please sign in.