Aston Villa target Allan McGregor stalls on signing new five-year Rangers deal

28 November 2010 23:41
Aston Villa target Allan McGregor is stalling on signing a new five-year deal with Rangers that would ring-fence a major fee for the Ibrox club. [LNB]In demand: McGregor is stalling over a new deal at Rangers[LNB]The Scotland goalkeeper was invited to commit to a contract extension until 2015 as long ago as August but, more than three months later, McGregor has so far rejected those overtures. [LNB]That has alerted the in-form keeper's suitors south of the border, with Gerard Houllier having confirmed that Villa are watching the 28-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United and Sevilla. [LNB]McGregor's current deal runs until the summer of 2013 and, if a concrete bid came in during January, Rangers would expect an offer upwards of £6million. [LNB]With reserve keeper Neil Alexander having already committed to a new deal, a sale in the New Year or at the end of the season might well be seen as making sense by the Ibrox bankers, even though manager Walter Smith has maintained all along he must be allowed to retain all his current players - and add to the squad. [LNB]Villa boss Houllier sent his assistant Gary McAllister and goalkeeping coach Rafael Gonzalez to watch McGregor in action against Manchester United last midweek, while Sir Alex Ferguson - who is also looking at keepers - had his own close-up view at Ibrox. [LNB] Just looking: Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has revealed his admiration for McGregor[LNB]'Yes, we went to see McGregor play in the Champions League tie,' confirmed Houllier. [LNB]'I am very happy with Brad Friedel but I am conscious he is 39. [LNB]'I would be silly not to look at the long term.' [LNB]  Hands off! Gers boss Smith warns pal Fergie that McGregor is not for saleManchester United close in on £5m move for Rangers keeper McGregorRANGERS FC

Source: Daily_Mail