Why are Rangers apparently chasing so many strikers?
No sooner had James Beattie become the club’s first signing in 23 months than Walter Smith was talking up his interest in Tommy Smith and Nikica Jelavic.
The reason? Kenny Miller wants out of Rangers ASAP.
Miller was green with jealousy at the Turkish offers put in front of Kris Boyd as his Rangers contract expired.
The Tarbolton goal machine didn’t even bother looking out his passport for a visit to Turkey and talks with Shota Arveladze at Kayserispor despite a £30-40,000 a week tax free deal being on offer.
Miller wouldn’t need to be asked twice about that sort of deal and has made it known that he’ll be available at the end of the current season if Rangers don’t sell him this summer.
Talks of a contract extension for the striker who turns 31 in December can be dismissed.
Rangers are ready to sell Miller before the transfer window closes at the end of the month rather than watch the clock tick down towards a Bosman departure with the striker keen to capitalise on the final big pay day of his career.
Discussing his situation last month Miller was unusually open and honest his position.
He said: “I don’t want to leave but sometimes it can be exciting. If it’s the right thing and something you’re interested in, then fine, it can be a welcome chat with the manager.
“As it is there aren’t any decisions to be made so you just get your head down and get on with it.
“You never know what can happen. I’m sitting here now but something could happen tomorrow.
“It leaves uncertainty within the squad as we don’t know what’s going to happen but the manager spoke to lads going into this season with a year left on their contracts and he explained the situation.
“At the end of the day there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The final year of a contract can be a difficult period for any player with uncertainty and worry matching the excitement of new opportunities.
Kevin Thomson’s leg break at Middlesbrough indicated how precarious the football business is even though Thomson has the insurance of a new four year contract at the Riverside Stadium for comfort.
Discussing his insecurities Miller admitted: “Going into the last year of your contract gives you all different things to worry about.
“You think about what would happen if you get injured and things like that. It’s worrying but that’s the time we’re in.
“We just need to deal with it and if any decisions need to be made along the way we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
That bridge looks increasingly likely to be out of Ibrox with any destination between Newcastle and Istanbul appealing to the Rangers striker.
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