Rangers boss confirms offers for Mervan Celik and Francisco Sandaza

STV

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has confirmed contracts have been offered to Swedish Under-21 winger Mervan Celik and St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza.

Celik, who is currently without a club after leaving GAIS, was revealed as a transfer target for the SPL side on Friday morning.

McCoist, speaking ahead of his side's weekend match with St Johnstone, said: "He is a player we have been looking at for a good while now and we have been in touch with his agent.

"He's a young player we have looked at in recent months and he has impressed us. He's one that we would like to come here.

"We have made an offer to the player's agent and we are just waiting on feedback and hopefully that can be agreed."

Rangers would be liable to pay £240,000 in training compensation to Celik's former club if he agreed to move to Glasgow. Reports in Sweden state the player has been offered a deal worth £7,000 a week.

Celik scored 14 goals in 27 appearances for GAIS last campaign, his fourth full season with the club. In total, he played 68 times, finding the net 18 times.

He has been consistently linked with a move away from Sweden over the last year, with a number of clubs, including Middlesbrough and Genoa, being attributed with an interest.

Celik, who is of Kurdish origin, also played youth football with IF Warta and BK Hacken before signing for GAIS in 2007.

Sandaza, who is out of contract at McDiarmid Park at the end of the season, has been offered pre-contract terms.

"I spoke to [St Johnstone manager] Steve Lomas this morning just to let him know that we have put a pre-contract bid in for the end of the season when his contract is up," McCoist confirmed.

"That's where we are and I think Sandaza's agent will be speaking to him on Monday or Tuesday next week."

McCoist fielded a number of questions on possible transfer targets, discussing possible ins and outs at Ibrox.

The manager confirmed a trial for Estonian right back Enar Jaagar, who will train at Murray Park next week.

McCoist also stated no bids had been received for Nikica Jelavic, while also insisting no further offer had been received from Sochaux for Maurice Edu, with the French club having seen two bids rejected this week.

Arsenal forward Benik Afobe is not a possible target because of injury, while McCoist also dismissed rumoured interest in Hibernian striker Garry O'Connor.

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