Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[N'ZMAV]

I really do not want SWP or Joe Cole. I want a more up & coming player that isn't just going to come here to sit around and have one last big pay day

[Concrete John]

8 million for a bloke 31 in October? 3 year deal at what 60K per week so that will be 17 Million with no resale value?

Plus 3 years injury free?

I agree.  Like him as a player and think he's what we need, so from a footballing perspective it makes perfect sense.  However, putting your sensible financial hat on the outlay, given his age, seems too much for me!

[eastie]

CARLOS CUELLAR last night opened the door to a stunning return to Rangers by insisting he is "excited" by the prospect of signing for Ally Mccoist.

And yesterday the 29-year-old centre half spoke exclusively to this paper to tell the truth behind his decision to leave in the first place - and to stress that he would not hesitate if Villa give him their blessing to go back.

Cuellar has fallen out of the top-team picture in the Midlands after managing just 10 league starts last season.

Now, with only one year remaining on his contract and with the club currently head hunting a third new manager in 12 months, the former Osasuna stopper believes his time at Villa Park might be up.

McCoist has identified him as a ready-made replacement for the perennially unsettled Algerian Madjid Bougherra, who seems certain to move on this summer."It's exciting because Rangers, for me, has so many good memories.

"It's exciting if there is a possibility to go back because all of those good memories come back - the city, the club, the people, how much they loved me and how much I loved them.

"Then there is the Champions League and the chance to win trophies again. Who wouldn't be excited about something like that?"

McCoist is determined to use new owner Craig Whyte's cash injection to bolster his defensive options and Cuellar's name is top of his list.

A fee of around s2million has been placed on Cuellar's head after recent speculation linking him with La Liga rivals Villarreal and Espanyol but Rangers could also attempt to strike a year-long loan deal for the player whom they sold to Villa for s7.8m in the summer of 2008.

And McCoist's part in any talks could prove crucial as Cuellar makes up his mind.

He said: "I had a good relationship with Ally McCoist. He is a great personality and I think it would be good fun to work under him as manager. But that doesn't mean it would be one big joke.

[Chris Smith]

8 million for a bloke 31 in October? 3 year deal at what 60K per week so that will be 17 Million with no resale value?

Plus 3 years injury free?

I agree.  Like him as a player and think he's what we need, so from a footballing perspective it makes perfect sense.  However, putting your sensible financial hat on the outlay, given his age, seems too much for me!

I'm a football fan not an accountant so bollocks to the sensible financial hat, he's exactly the player we need so that's good enough for me.

[eastie]

8 million for a bloke 31 in October? 3 year deal at what 60K per week so that will be 17 Million with no resale value?

Plus 3 years injury free?

I agree.  Like him as a player and think he's what we need, so from a footballing perspective it makes perfect sense.  However, putting your sensible financial hat on the outlay, given his age, seems too much for me!

I'm a football fan not an accountant so bollocks to the sensible financial hat, he's exactly the player we need so that's good enough for me.

if parker helps us back into europe he will more than repay the fee with final league position payments included as well.

Top class player and a leader and worth the fee in my opinion.

[Rick_avfc]

Why are people harping on about resale value?  One minute you hate being labelled a "selling club" then you start talking about the resale value of a player?  Parker is what we need at villa in the middle of the park and i'd welcome him with open arms.  Sometimes in business, it takes money to make money so you have to gamble on players like parker for their ability and experience.  He will do very well for us and help us move up the table or win a cup where we can get that investment back.

[eastie]

ASTON Villa last night cleared the way for Carlos Cuellar’s return to Ibrox.

The Premiership side finally agreed to sell after Rangers increased their bid to £2million. But although Villa have accepted, everything now depends on the Spaniard’s willingness to take a severe cut in wages.

It is understood Cuellar is on just more than £40,000 a week down south but Rangers won’t pay much more than half of that. It is likely Cuellar would have to accept £25,000 a week but that would still make him one of the highest paid players .
While Villa finally relented on Rangers’ bid for Cuellar, Espanyol have thrown out the Ibrox club’s offer for Raul Rodriguez.

Sporting director Ramon Planes said Gers’ initial bid of £400,000 for the defender didn’t meet their valuation.

He said: “The bid Rangers made for Raul was insufficient. It is not acceptable. We believe in Raul, he is a young player who hasn’t played a lot of games. He’s one for the future.”

Kenny Miller is another player on Rangers’ radar and he’ll also have to accept a massive pay cut before returning to Ibrox.

Last night Rangers’ director of football Gordon Smith said: “There are two aspects we need to understand. Firstly, is he available and is he available at a price we would pay?

“And is he willing to look at the wage structure in Scottish football as opposed to Turkish football?

“If he comes back here it would not be on the same sort of basis financially.”

Cuellar arrived at Ibrox from Osasuna in 2007 but was transferred to Villa for £7.8m after only a year.

Alex McLeish was reluctant to part with the central defender and slapped a £3m price tag on his head. But last night he and Villa relented.

[JUAN PABLO]

Yeh, he doesn't seem to shy away from contact does he? I could see Bent getting on the end of a lot of those crosses too. Lose Young and Downing, pick up N'Zogbia and Vargas. I like the sound of that!

* prays to Mcgrath *

[caster troy]

How old was Andy Townsend when we signed him? How important a player was he for us? How much did we end up selling him for?

I'd love us to sign Parker.

[VWBelgian]

Nzogbia & parker would be good additions and first squad players. Given or Foster or mccregor?

Cuellar you can sell him, but then we need a leftback and let Luke play on the right. Maybe that vargas type, but reckon his a bale type ( left attacking back ).

Joe cole is a maybe, swp is a no go. Then i would prefer to kranjcar if ireland isnt up to it. I really hope ireland gets through 

[eastie]

with the prospect of parker ireland and nzogbia bent will be licking his lips.

[JUAN PABLO]

I was thinking about the whole Given/Foster thing earlier and how it might be being delayed due to our CB issues.  McLeish's Blues side was built on the back of that strong relationship between the CBs and the keeper, so I wouldn't be surprised if he sees Foster and Dann as a double act and wants them both.  Whether it be too expensive or we have trouble dealing with that lot at the moment, I think his back-up/cheaper option is Given, who should have a similar relationship with Dunne due to their Man City and Ireland connections. 

So, if Dunne is looking back to his best in training we sign Given and spend elsewhere, but if not we go for the Dann/Foster double act, which might mean less spent in other areas? 

Just a thought.

seems given has agreed 3 year deal and we are waiting on city agreeing his severance payment -i dont think foster is on the radar, but dann may well be.

I think Given would be a positive mood for Ireland and getting Dunne back to his best ...   

[Marlon From Bearwood]

How old was Andy Townsend when we signed him? How important a player was he for us? How much did we end up selling him for?

I'd love us to sign Parker.

Good point, and you could say the same about Merson. I remember people saying it was too much for a 30 year old but he proved to be worth it.

[JUAN PABLO]

Im back ..


Whats been happening ....  my network be down for 48 hours ..  Now I know how a smoker trying to give up feels..

so did we sign Nzogbia ,Parker , Given and Diego then ....

no, no , no and no.

has that wan*er gone yet  ?        I mean the mothers boy .. 

if we can just get rid of Beye and Heskey , then I think paying the money for Parker is no problem at all. Christ , we need a leader .

[DB]

eastie - If your going to play the role of a Sky Sports News reporter then at least put your sources on the stories. I'm sick of the media, reporting on stuff that hasn't actually happened - do we need it on here as well?