30 January 2007

Rangers have beaten Celtic and several English clubs to the signature of Kevin Thomson after paying Hibernian £2m for the midfielder.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Walter Smith's Glasgow club.

He becomes manager Smith's fourth signing since returning to Ibrox.

Thomson told Rangers' website: "As soon as it came to the table that I had the option of playing here then I didn't need any other options."

He had lost the captaincy at Easter Road after he and midfield partner Scott Brown fell out with the club over the terms of their new contract.

"There's been a lot speculation surrounding my future in recent weeks, but I'm just delighted to be here," Thomson told Rangers' website.

"It's a massive club. As a boy, you always dream of playing for a big club like Rangers as it is the pinnacle of Scottish football." Source - BBC Sport

04 January 2007

Rangers are closing in on Hibernian midfield pair Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown and Wigan defender Andy Webster, BBC Scotland understands.

Hibernian turned down a £3m joint bid from Charlton for Thomson, who has been stripped of the captaincy and Brown, who had a transfer request rejected.

It is understood the players want to join Rangers and that Webster will join the Ibrox club on loan.

Former Rangers boss Paul Le Guen left the club by mutual consent on Thursday.

Brown and club captain Thomson signed long-term contracts in March but their agent, Willie McKay, launched a very public campaign to improve their terms.

But he said the Edinburgh club were reluctant to part with two players who could help them through a difficult spell of games.

Brown is under contract until 2009, while Thomson, 23, is tied up until 2010. Source - BBC Sport

22 November 2006

"Rangers informed Hibs in writing of their interest following talks between Rod Petrie and Martin Bain. Their position is clear - they want both players," said McKay.

The agent did, however, claim that both players would be happy to commit their long-term futures to Hibs, and extend their contracts, but only if their wages could be renegotiated.

That is easier said than done. Petrie is determined not to make exceptions to the clear wage structure set out at Easter Road, and he steadfastly refused to buckle to similar financial demands from Derek Riordan and his agent last season, holding the striker to his contract until his unsuccessful summer move to Celtic.

McKay added: "I told Rod what the players were looking for, which was less than he expected. They are not being greedy. They are willing to sign for Hibs for half what they would earn were they to be sold for £3 million each. That is the figure Hibs have quoted to Rangers, Charlton and Nottingham Forest." Source - The Scotsman

16 November 2006

Celtic and Rangers could be involved in a transfer tug-of-war in January over Hibernian midfielders Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown, BBC Sport understands.

Charlton were the latest English club to be linked with the pair.

But Hibs manager John Collins insists there have been no offers for the Scotland Under-21 internationals.

"There have been no approaches at this moment in time," he told BBC Sport. "Both have long-term contracts and we don't want to sell them to anyone."
Rangers are believed to be preparing a bid for Brown and Hibs captain Thomson, while Celtic are known to have shown interest in the recent past.

"There's always going to be interest from my point of view in players playing well, but they are happy at the football club," added Collins, who himself moved from Easter Road to Celtic Park.

"We have lots of good football players and it's only natural for other manager to want them.

"Who knows whether they will stay or go sometime in the future?

"But I want them to stay here and to watch them develop further."

Lifelong Hibs fan Thomson revealed earlier this week that he and Brown had instructed agent Willie McKay to negotiate extended contracts at Easter Road.

Thomson, 23, is already tied up until 2010 while 21-year-old Brown is under contract until 2009. Source - BBC Sport