Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson = 6m

RANGERS will sell both captain Barry Ferguson and top scorer Kris Boyd this month – if they can rake in £6million for the pair.

Boyd is almost certain to be a Birmingham player by the end of the week despite Gers booting out a bid of £3m last night from St Andrew’s.

The Ibrox club want £3.5m for the 20-goal hitman – 2.5m up front and the rest if City reach the Premiership.

Ferguson can join him at the exit door if anyone meets Rangers’ £2.5m valuation and Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear has already gone public with his interest.

Record Sport can reveal Ibrox boss Walter Smith and chairman David Murray have held an emergency summit to draw up a transfer window strategy after being alerted to interest in two of their most prominent players. Rangers last night confirmed Birmingham had declared their intent and Murray revealed he was willing to do business.

He said: “Birmingham have made an enquiry. We talked about money but we haven’t agreed a fee and no business will be done today.

“We rejected a bid of around £3m but if they improve it, we’ll allow them to speak to Kris.”

Smith and Murray have agreed to offload both Ferguson and Boyd this transfer window – but only if the price is right.

While five other players – Allan McGregor, Madjid Bougherra, Pedro Mendes, Steve Davis and Kevin Thomson – have been categorised as untouchable, Ferguson and Boyd will be allowed to move on before the market shuts at the end of the month.

With Smith’s side currently trailing Celtic by five points this is a hugely risky strategy and one which is certain to anger many of the club’s supporters.

But, following the financial disaster caused by crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers to Kaunas, Murray has demanded Smith trims his squad.

In fact, the manager would use some of the money raised to bolster his defence by securing a new centre-half, although top target Tonel may have been priced out of a move by Sporting Lisbon, who now want £4m for the Portuguese international.

Birmingham have so far fallen short of matching Murray’s demands for Boyd and are also attempting to piece together a three-year payment package.

Murray, though, wants the bulk of the fee paid up front and will also insist on an additional bonus payment of up to £1m if Boyd helps McLeish win promotion and bag a £30m ticket to the Premiership.

That should bring the total sum up to around the £3.5m mark – while Rangers would be happy to accept around £1m less for Ferguson who turns 31 next month.

Newcastle’s interest in the Ibrox skipper is, however, less straightforward given that the Geordies have so far failed to make any official contact with Rangers, despite Kinnear’s weekend claims of an official enquiry being made.

The manager’s somewhat bizarre approach has baffled both Smith and Murray who suspect third-party involvement behind the scenes.

But they believe a bid could be tabled and will do business if Newcastle reach their £2.5m valuation of the Scotland skipper.

Ferguson – by far the biggest earner on Smith’s wage bill – has 18 months left on his current £30,000-a-week Ibrox contract and has been made aware that he will not be given the same financial package should he chose to extend his deal.

But the player could expect to rake in substantially more money on Tyneside and would also hope to sign at least a three-year deal.

The Gers boss also believes he can absorb the loss of Boyd and Ferguson by getting more from players such as Kyle Lafferty, Maurice Edu, Nacho Novo, Andrius Velicka and Stevie Naismith who have been on the fringes of his first team this season.

Meanwhile, Alan Gow has agreed terms on a £250,000 switch to Wolves and should complete his move in the next 24 hours.

Birmingham enquire about Boyd

Update : “Birmingham have made an enquiry. We talked about money but we haven’t agreed a fee and no business will be done today,” said Murray.

“We rejected a bid of around £3million but if they improve it, we’ll allow them to speak to Kris Boyd.” (anyone is for sale)

Birmingham:  However, the English Championship outfit insist that an offer has already been accepted for the 25-year-old.

Update : Following media speculation today, Rangers Football Club can confirm this evening that we have received an enquiry from Birmingham City for Kris Boyd.

BREAKING NEWS..Setanta Sports News sources claim Rangers have accepted a bid from Birmingham City for Scotland sharp-shooter Kris Boyd. More to follow..

 

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is considering a bid for Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

The Championship side are keen to bolster their forward line, with Gary O’Connor sidelined by injury and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie’s loan period ending.

Boyd, 25, is the top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with 18 goals.

McLeish signed Boyd from Kilmarnock during his time in charge of Rangers and also capped the forward when manager of Scotland.

Cardiff City failed with a £2.5m bid for Boyd in the summer but the player recently revealed that he had considered leaving Ibrox.

 

He was frustrated at being overlooked for key matches last term but his form this season has been impressive.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has made no secret of the need to prune his squad. However, it would be a major surprise if he elected to sell his leading scorer.

Blues target Gers winger

Skysports.com understands Birmingham are keeping tabs on Rangers winger Alan Gow.

Gow’s future has been the subject of speculation all summer with Rangers willing to let the former Falkirk move on.

The 25-year-old rejected a move to Burnley last month, while a proposed switch to Norwich has gone cold.

The news has alerted Birmingham boss Alex McLeish who is believed to be a big admirer of Gow.

McLeish gave Gow his Scotland B cap during his time in charge of the national side and he has believed to have made enquiries for the player.

Blues chief McLeish could be in the market for a new left-sided midfielder with Olivier Kapo seemingly on his way out of St Andrews and Gow could be an ideal replacement.

Gow had a frustrating first season at Ibrox following his switch from Falkirk 12 months ago, making just two appearances and is keen to get a move away in search of regular first-team action.

Source: Sky Sports