30 May 2006

Rangers boss Paul Le Guen is preparing a to snatch Romanian hotshot Daniel Niculae from Rapid Bucharest.

The £2.2million hitman would be the Frenchman's third major signing, following the capture of Swedish stopper Karl Svensson from IFK Gothenburg and Libor Sionko from Austria Vienna.

Niclulae, 23, is rated as one of Romania's top young forwards and has fought his way back into the international team after firing Rapid up the league table.

He played for his country in a 2-0 win over Nothern Ireland in Chicago on Friday and scored one goal and made the other. But Le Guen will face strong competition from around Europe.

German outfit Hamburg have made the first moves with Niculae's agent and he's also aware of interest from Dynamo Kiev, Auxerre, Hertha Berlin and Ajax. Rapid are desparate to keep the striker, but Niculae has a clause in his contract which states he must be sold if a bid of over £2million is tabled.

Niculae also rattled in 14 goals in 20 matches the season before last and that kind of form has attracted attention from afar.

The player admitted that he is aware of the intrest from around Europe and said; "I have heard about offers and it is true that I would like to play in a bigger league and have a fresher challenge then the Romanian League.

"But I feel really happy at Rapid and it would not be correct for me to speak about moving until something definite happens." Source - Sunday Express