Francisco Sandaza claims he was denied a late deadline day switch to Rangers.

The St Johnstone striker was linked with a move to the Ibrox club for much of the January transfer window but rejected a pre-contract offer from the Glasgow side.

As STV reported on Tuesday, Rangers had lined up three possible signing targets, Sandaza, Hamdi Salihi and Falkirk's Kallum Higginbotham, after an earlier bid for Grant Holt was instantly rebuffed by Nowich City.

And today the Spaniard has confirmed that the Ibrox club came back in for him hours before Tuesday’s deadline after selling Nikica Jelavic to Everton.

Sandaza told the Daily Record: “I received a call from them at about five o’clock in the afternoon.

“We agreed about the terms more or less then they told me to wait 15 or 20 minutes. They said they would phone me back and tell me which flight to catch.

“But no one called. I was waiting and waiting for the call but it didn’t come and I realised I wasn’t going to get the chance to go there and sign.”

The 27-year-old believes the decision not to replace Croatian striker Jelavic could play a big part in determining who wins this season’s SPL title.

He added: “They should have a replacement for Jelavic. They don’t so if they lose the title it will be their own fault.”