Source: PA
Smith refutes hijacking claims over Weiss deal
Walter Smith has refuted suggestions that Rangers hijacked Celtic's bid to sign Vladimir Weiss after winning the race for his signature.
The Scottish champions swooped to sign the Manchester City winger on a season-long loan on Thursday, after the player was heavily linked with a move to the Hoops.
However, Smith claims he registered his interested in the 20-year-old weeks ago - well before he was aware Celtic had also targeted him - and insists Rangers did not steal him from the clutches of their Old Firm rivals.
"It's a nice media headline but I don't think that's the case," said the Ibrox boss.
"We enquired about the player just at the start of pre-season training, so you are looking at seven weeks ago. Manchester City said they couldn't make a decision at that time, that they would have to wait until nearer the end of the transfer window.
"They got in contact with us last week but there were a number of clubs in and we had no idea who they were at the time. We went back in to try and get a player we had asked about a good few weeks ago."
