Source: Daily_Mail
Boro boss Strachan ups the ante in bid to win war for Rangers' Kris Boyd
Middlesbrough will pay Kris Boyd £250,000-a-year more than Rangers have offered as they fight to secure the striker's signature. [LNB]Sportsmail revealed on Friday that the Ibrox club have opened negotiations on a new, three-year deal to keep the prolific 26-year-old in Glasgow until 2013. [LNB]But Gordon Strachan's side, desperate for Boyd to bolster their promotion credentials, are believed to have offered a wage packet that exceeds Rangers' offer by around £5,000 per week. [LNB] Middlesbrough target: Kris Boyd could link up with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan [LNB]Manager Walter Smith remains hopeful the player will stay at Rangersand has also told the club's board and bankers that they cannot affordto let star assets leave on Bosman free transfers this summer.[LNB] 'We are not even thinking about possible replacements for KrisBoyd,' said Smith. 'We have made him an offer and we hope he will staywith Rangers. He has to take everything into consideration. [LNB]'He is in an important part of his career, in his mid-20s, and this is a big decision for him. [LNB]Training as usual: Kris Boyd and KennyMiller (left) battle the elements at Murray Park on Friday[LNB][LNB]'Kris's goals have been a huge part of our success in the pastcouple of years. I think every team needs a goalscorer and he has beenthat for us. [LNB]'Nobody here can complain about the number of goals he has scored -he's been fantastic. There is no time limit on getting the deal donewith Kris, as far as I am aware.[LNB] 'His agent spoke with (chief executive) Martin Bain to talk aboutthe offer that was being made. We would certainly be hopeful that hewould sign it.' [LNB]Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot are also wanted beyond the expiry oftheir deals but Boyd's future remains the key issue. He was lined upfor a £3.8million switch to Birmingham City this time last year becauseof the club's financial crisis but his Rangers career has come fullcircle, with 121 goals since signing from Kilmarnock. [LNB]With debts of £31.1m, Rangers are clearly making a concerted effortto persuade the striker, with projected wages of £18,000 per weekrepresenting a significant increase on his current salary.[LNB] 'This is the first deal we have started on but wehave a few players coming out of contract,' added Smith.[LNB] Staying focused: Rangers' manager Smith does not want to lose his star-striker[LNB] 'So we have to start trying to get them tied up. If we don't startto offer some of them an opportunity to stay at the club, we will ceaseto operate, never mind anything else. It is as simple as that.[LNB] 'I have an input into the players we want to see stay at the club. Obviously, there are limits in terms of what we can do.[LNB] 'But, on the footballing side, we have the decision over whether weoffer new contracts or not. The sums are left up to the board and,sometimes, it's the sums that dictate more than anything else. [LNB]'Now we will talk to both Novo and to Broadfoot.' Sporting Lisbon's interest in Pedro Mendes isn't being encouraged by Smith, either. [LNB]'If you look at our squad overall, we had only two - Maurice Edu andSteven Smith - on the bench at Celtic Park last week as over-ageprofessionals,' he said.[LNB] 'And we have only two more available to us again this weekend forthe Scottish Cup tie at Hamilton in Kenny Miller and Kevin Thomson. [LNB]'That is not including suspensions, which come up in the second halfof the season, and that is normally the time when they start to kickin. 'So we need all of our players between now and the end of theseason.'[LNB] Rangers offer Kris Boyd a new deal - now Walter Smith has to wait for an answerBhoys getting busy: Jos Hooiveld on the move as Celtic strike deal with Middlesbrough to offload four players Boyd battle begins: Rangers start contract talks with hitmanRANGERS FC
