Rangers finally strike a deal for Jelavic

RANGERS fans will today welcome the club’s second new signing in 24 hours if Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic comes through his Murray Park medical and, as expected, agrees personal terms with the Ibrox club.

The long-running transfer saga looked to have come to an end when Rangers announced an agreement had finally been reached with Austrian club Rapid Vienna.

The 24-year-old striker will cost the Light Blues around £4 million and will join Slovakia international Vladimir Weiss, who signed for the Scottish champions on a one-year loan deal from Manchester City.

Gers boss Walter Smith made his first cash signing in two years last week when former England striker James Beattie arrived from Stoke for an undisclosed fee.

Ibrox chief executive Martin Bain, who has worked tirelessly on the Jelavic deal, said: “We have agreed a fee with Rapid for Nikica Jelavic and we have also agreed personal terms in principle.

“He will arrive tomorrow when we will hope to complete these and when he will also undergo a medical.”

Weiss revealed the lure of Champions League football convinced him to choose Rangers over Celtic and other suitors.

The highly-rated 20-year-old arrived in Glasgow to complete the move, having also been linked with Old Firm rivals Celtic, Stuttgart and Sampdoria.

Weiss is now set to go straight into the squad for Sunday’s clash with Hibernian at Easter Road.

Weiss said: “As soon as I got this offer I was really interested.

“I aim to do my best and, hopefully, we will have a good season.”