Mark Warburton looks like missing out on Grant Hanley after Newcastle offered £5m for the Blackburn Rovers defender.
The Scotland star was talked up as a target for Mark Warburton with Colin Hendry used as the messenger for a dream move to Ibrox.
Braveheart joined Dick Advocatt’s revolution in a £4m move in 1998 but with Newcastle on the scene it seems unlikely that Hanley will be moving up the M74 to join the new club.
Last month The Lancashire Telegraph reported Hendry said: ““If they (Rangers) have a chunk of their budget set aside for a centre-half, then I would look at Grant Hanley.
“He is 24 and still learning his trade, but he has improved significantly in the past two years and now has more than 200 first-team games under his belt.
“It’s been rumoured Fulham are willing to pay £1.5million for him. I know for certain that two or three English Premier League clubs watched him closely and will continue to sniff around.
“But even if Rangers could come up with a package, would the boy want to go and play in Scottish football just now?
“If he asked for my advice, I’d tell him to join Rangers, for sure. However, maybe Mark Warburton and Davie Weir would prefer a centre-half in his late 20s or early 30s, a player who is still physically fit and also has a wealth of experience under his belt.
“We’ll wait and see. It will be interesting to see what happens but it’s all about budgets.”
Former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was used for deflection tactics straight after the Scottish Cup defeat from Hibs but that deal seems as likely as the hover pitch and retractable roof (copyrite@moonbeamproductions).
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