Ally mccoist: No way steven whittaker is leaving rangers

[ian1964 10,780]

ALLY McCOIST has told Bursaspor and all the other predators that Scotland star Steven Whittaker is not for sale.

 

Express Sport revealed last week that the former Turkish champions were about to make a move for Steven Whittaker in a bid to team him up with his international team-mate Kenny Miller.

 

Bursaspor tabled a cheeky �£300,000 offer for Whittaker earlier this week but it was quickly turned down and Ally McCoist is now looking for the club to get the player secured to a contract beyond next summer when his current deal is due to expire.

 

The Rangers manager, who has just returned from a scouting mission in Argentina, said: ââ?¬Å?Yes, I can confirm we had an offer from Bursaspor.

 

ââ?¬Å?I took a phone call from Andrew Dickson to tell me about it. He didnââ?¬â?¢t even tell me the figures involved because I told him that I wasnââ?¬â?¢t interested in selling Steven.

 

I can confirm we had an offer from Bursaspor

 

ââ?¬Å?I have made it clear that Steven is one of the players I see as part of my long-term plans for the club.

 

ââ?¬Å?That is why we have opened talks with his representatives to extend his current contract.

 

ââ?¬Å?I will get a clearer indication of how those talks are going when I meet with Mr Whyte.

 

ââ?¬Å?But the feedback I have had from the boys has been positive.ââ?¬Â

 

McCoist�s main priority remains strengthening his SPL championship-winning side rather than weakening it.

 

His main job is to sort out his central defensive options for the new season.

 

He would love to take Carlos Cuellar back from Aston Villa but the player�s representative told Express Sport that deal is a non-starter.

 

The 29-year-old�s agent, Pedro Bravo, has revealed he is on the verge of signing a new deal with the English Premier League outfit.

 

Bravo said: ââ?¬Å?Carlos is more than happy at Aston Villa.

 

ââ?¬Å?He still has one year left on his contract and he has no intention of leaving. In fact, the club have already opened talks about a new deal and I expect Carlos to sign an extension pretty soon.

 

ââ?¬Å?Certainly a return to Rangers is not in his thoughts. He enjoyed his time at Rangers but now he is more than happy at Aston Villa.ââ?¬Â

 

Getting Kyle Bartley back from Arsenal remains on the agenda for McCoist and he is set to seek talks with the Gunners this week in a bid to thrash out a deal.

 

Liverpool�s ex-Ranger Danny Wilson is another name being considered on a season-long loan, although his representatives claim they have heard nothing on the deal from either club.

 

McCoist has still to run that one past his assistants, Kenny McDowall and Ian Durrant.

 

Groningen defender Andreas Granqvist also remains a live target, especially as the futures of Madjid Bougherra and captain Davie Weir remain unsolved. Weir is out of contract and still to hold talks with the new manager, while Bougherra has admitted he would prefer to move on rather than see out the remaining year of his Ibrox deal.

 

McCoist will hold talks with owner Whyte, who is set to give his new boss �£12million to spend, to get an update on the contract talks with Whittaker, Allan McGregor and Steven Davis.

 

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/251478/Ally-McCoist-No-way-Steven-Whittaker-is-leaving-RangersAlly-McCoist-No-way-Steven-Whittaker-is-leaving-Rangers#ixzz1OfKpjNIO

[Gribz 966]

Good to read Ally is on the active at the moment and setting his sights with good names like Cuellar and Bartley. Even if he doesnt land someone like Cuellar it is good to see he is keen to get that level of player.

 

Whittaker finished the season well but had a stinker for the majority. Ive always liked him better at LB, yet he was impressive at centre half and I wonder if thats his long term position.

 

Not sure Id welcome Wilson back. He jumped ship and hasnt kicked a ball for Liverpool showing he saw the pound signs too early. His good performances was down to mentor Weir.

[Frankie 8,687]

Whittaker is a good squad player to have given he can play almost anywhere on the pitch. He'd be difficult to replace even if he's not the highest quality in the world.

 

I am worried that his wage demands for a new contract may be more than his worth though.

[Gribz 966]

Agree with that Frankie that he would be tricky to replace given the insane values down south. And 300k from Bursaspor is way to low.

 

If Whittaker signs a new deal I hope he is played in defence though and not one of these players who seems to get in the first XI every week without fail anywhere on the park.

[Gazza_8 233]

Selling Whittaker wouldn't bother me in the slightest. A player who plays 1 good game then 4 or 5 bad ones.

[Jim White 0]

Ally McCoist has confirmed Bursaspor's interest in Steven Whittaker but insists he has no plans to sell.

 

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[Danny 0]

He's hardly Hutton. He's done well enough I suppose but if a good offer came in, I think we could replace him with someone better. Bit like Papac on the other side.

[Danny 0]

Selling Whittaker wouldn't bother me in the slightest. A player who plays 1 good game then 4 or 5 bad ones.

 

Not for �£300k though.

[Guest Dutchy]

I like Whittaker and think he's better in midfield, mainly due to his previos disasters in defence. Having said that, the team was playing really well in the run in and he had a good few really important contributions to make, from defence. I'd certainly like to keep him, as folk are saying, he'd be hard to replace.

 

I would like to see Cueller return along with Bartley, but again, the money thing raises it's ugly head. I think it would be worth it, because we have 2 qualifying rounds to complete before getting into the group stages of the CL. Surely, if we're in there, we get some cash in order to pay for their wages?

[Super_Ally 0]

Decent enough player. Underrated and undervalued for the most part.