Rangers have been priced out of a deal for Algerian Salim Kerkar by French Third Division side Guegnon.
The 23-year-old was recommended to Rangers by Madjid Bougherra and has been training at Murray Park since the start of the season as well as playing as a trialist in reserve matches.
After months of negotiating and various attempts to sign the player it seems that Rangers won’t be held to ransom by the French minnows.
Guegnon are currently sitting third bottom of National (Third Division) with just 920 fans turning up for their last home match against league leaders Bastia.
Rangers had believed that Kerkar was a free agent but club’s are entitled to claim compensation for players under-24 if they move to a foreign assocuation.
Walter Smith admitted: “Unfortunately for the lad we can’t get a decision from FIFA in terms of compensation.
“Guegnon have released him but they are still claiming compensation so while this situation remains the same we won’t be taking him.”
Most club’s like to play down transfer speculation until a player has been signed but just over a month ago the official Rangers website were very confident of another new face moving to Ibrox.
Under the headline of ‘Salim deal this week’ on September 20 they quoted Smith saying: “He has been training with us for a few weeks now and he has been looking good so hopefully we can get a resolution to that in the next few days.
“He gives us options in the wide areas. He can play either side and he has done well in the bounce games he has featured in.
“It will be a relief to the lad once things are sorted because he has been around us for a while now and I think he will be glad to get everything over with.”
Meanwhile forgotten defender Andy Webster came within an hour of making his second appearance for the club since signinga permanent deal from Wigan in 2008.
Webster was expected to start last night’s Co-Operative Cup tie against Kilmarnock but was ruled out with by a leg strain shortly before the warm up to last night’s match.
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