23 May 2007

Rangers' bumper Pizarro offer is set to be beaten by Juventus

RANGERS fear they could lose out in the race to sign Claudio Pizarro despite offering the Peruvian hitman a massive £45,000 a week.

As Record Sport revealed yesterday Walter Smith was in Madrid speaking to the out-of-favour Bayern Munich striker's agents last week.

Although it is understood that meeting went favourably Rangers could be beaten to the 28-year-old's signature by Italian giants Juventus, who are ready to offer Pizarro a sensational £60,000 a week. Pizarro's contract with Bayern is about to end and the man who has scored 160 goals over six seasons in the Bundesliga knows he can command a fantastic salary because the club he selects won't have to pay a transfer fee.

Rangers could afford to fund their move for Pizarro because of the wages which will have been freed up by the departures of Stefan Klos and Dado Prso. Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan also want the striker, but it is believed Juve could have jumped to the head of the queue although Smith has not yet abandoned all hope of capturing Pizarro until he has actually put pen to paper with some other club.

Pizarro has been overlooked at Bayern, who would also love to hold on to him ever since he made it clear he wanted to leave on a Bosman.

Now Rangers can do nothing but wait and hope even though they are willing to make the Lima-born scorer the highest-paid player in the club's history.

Ibrox legend Jorg Albertz is desperately hoping Rangers their man.

Albertz believes the Peruvian is exactly the type of player the Ibrox faithful have been crying out for in the wake of Scott Brown's decision to sign for Celtic. Albertz said: "I was really delighted when I heard Rangers had made a move for Pizarro.

"He would be a fantastic signing and exactly what the fans have been looking for.

"I know the supporters want a big name and Pizarro is just that. The fans over here love him but when you have Roy Makaay, Lukas Podolski and Roque Santa Cruz it was difficult for him to play every game.

"Pizarro is top class. He is tall and fast which is so important in Scottish football.

"It can be difficult to adapt, just look at what happened to Tore Andre Flo at Ibrox. But for me, Pizarro is the right kind of player for Rangers." Source - Daily Record

May 23 2007

RANGERS could be ready to pay the highest salary in the club's history to persuade Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro to sign for the Ibrox side.

The 28-year-old Peruvian is out of contract this summer, allowing Rangers to make a competitive offer for his services which are sure to be in demand elsewhere.
Advert for the New Scotsman Golf Service

Pizarro has a phenomenal scoring record in Germany over the past six years, averaging almost 30 goals per season until he struggled to hold down a first-team place lately, and it has been reported that Rangers would have to pay an estimated £40,000 per week to lure him to Scotland.

Rangers manager Walter Smith is understood to have travelled to Spain last week for transfer talks.

Meanwhile, Rangers midfielder Thomas Buffel has vowed to salvage his Ibrox career next season. The 26-year-old was thought to be on his way to Bundesliga side Hannover at the start of the year but the transfer was scrapped when he required surgery on a knee injury.

"I feel there is unfinished business here," said Buffel. "When I am totally fit, I feel I can do even better and be able to control matches again and be a regular.

"I had a positive discussion with the manager [Walter Smith]. He told me to get myself match fit and we would take it from there, so that aspect is up to me." Source - Scotsman