Off to sunny Spain?: Madjid Bougherra has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona and league rivals Sevilla.
Madjid Bougherra is on Barcelona’s summer transfer wishlist after his assured form at the Africa Cup of Nations. It has been reported that the Rangers defender, who took Algeria to the semi-finals of last month’s tournament, is on a list of possible targets drawn up by the La Liga leader’s director of football Txiki Begiristain.
According to reports which cite sources in both Spain and Algeira, Barca's league rivals Sevilla, who won the Uefa Cup in Glasgow back in 2007 and were in Rangers' Champions League group this season, are also said to be tracking the player.
Bougherra, who moved to Ibrox from Charlton Athletic in 2008 for £2.5 million, was recently named as the Arabian Player of the Year and despite a shaky opening game for his country in their surprise 3-0 defeat to Malawi, recovered to give some composed showings before they lost out to arch-rivals Egypt in the last four.
The Algerian has played in the UK since 2006 when he moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra from French Championnat side Gueugnon, before a permanent switch to Sheffield Wednesday in the same year. A spell in London followed before he moved to Glasgow on a four-year deal.
A move to the Catalan giants would undoubtedly mark a massive step up for the highly-rated defender given his career to date and the opportunity to play at the highest level would almost certainly appeal to the 27-year-old.
Barcelona, who are the holders of the Spanish league title, Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, have an embarrassment of wealth in the centre of defence at the moment, making it hard to see where Bougy may fit in unless there are drastic changes in the summer.
Former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique is a regular pick, while Mexican Rafael Marquez, team captain Carles Puyol and Ukranian Dmytro Chygrynskiy battle it out for a place in Pep Guardiola’s team. He can also call upon the services of Argentine Gabriel Milito, who has recently returned from long term injury.
Bougherra is seen as a vital member of the Rangers backline, with David Weir and young Danny Wilson the only other contenders for two spots in the centre of Walter Smith’s defence.
He has been forgiven twice for returning late from international duty by club bosses after giving numerous excuses, including once claiming to have had his passport and phone stolen during a connection in Paris.
