The proposed transfer of Kevin Phillips to Gordon Strachan’s Southampton FC is far from being a done deal, and today it emerged that Rangers are pondering the possibility of a counter-bid for the striker.
Phillips is due to meet Strachan for discussions this weekend but it’s thought likely that should he agree to play for the south coast club, Phillips would need to take a significant wages cut from the reported £30,000-a-week he is said to receive from Sunderland.
But Rangers boss Alex McLeish has confirmed that the possibility of them bidding for Phillips shouldn’t be written off completely.
Rangers would be in a better position to finance a deal for Phillips if they can beat Copenhagen later this month, to progress to the Champions’ League group stages.
McLeish told The Scotsman newspaper that preparations for a bid were not moving forward at the current time, but “I would think that the best thing we can all do – myself, the players and the coaches – is get in the Champions League proper. That would help.
“You would have ask Martin (Bain, director of football business) or the chairman John McClelland on these issues.
“But it would be a boost for the club if we were to get into the Champions League.”
