LIVERPOOL are considering their options after having a £2million bid rejected by Rangers for talented young defender Danny Wilson.
Manager Rafa Benitez is a big fan of the 18-year-old centre-back and is hoping to bring him to Anfield this summer.
However, the Reds insist they won’t be held to ransom over Wilson, who only has 12 months remaining on his current deal and has turned down Rangers’ offer of a new contract.
Liverpool must now decide whether to up their bid or focus their attention on other targets.
Rangers manager Walter Smith said: “We are currently waiting to hear back from Liverpool after we rejected their original £2million offer.”
The Reds are aware that if Scotland’s PFA Young Player of the Year stays at Ibrox and sees out the remaining year of his contract they would only have to pay Rangers around £650,000 in compensation next summer.
Livingston-born Wilson, who came through the youth ranks at Rangers, made his first team debut last October and went on to make 25 first-team appearances.
Tottenham are also interested in Wilson and Rangers chief executive Martin Bain admitted they rejected approaches from two English Premier League clubs back in January.
Meanwhile, Wilson’s Rangers team-mate Madjid Bougherra insists he’s now happy to stay at Ibrox after boss Smith signed a new one-year deal.
The Algerian defender had previously claimed he was keen to return to England this summer and made it clear Liverpool was his preferred destination.
The former Charlton star said: “Walter signing his contract is better for me. He knows my style, he knows my game and he’s been great with me.
“I am happy to stay and I will give Rangers 200%. I have two years left on my contract and I have not asked to negotiate.
“I have never asked for a contract and I plan to be back for pre-season training after the World Cup.
“I would prefer to stay and win trophies and play in the Champions League with Rangers than go to a club which can’t give me these things.”
Reds trio Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all came through England’s unconvincing 2-1 friendly victory over Japan in Austria yesterday unscathed.
Johnson was handed a starting berth before being substituted at half-time in the final warm-up game ahead of the World Cup finals. Gerrard and Carragher both played the second half.
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel handed Slovakia a major boost ahead of the World Cup finals after completing 90 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Cameroon.
The Reds centre-back only returned to full training earlier this month after suffering a broken metatarsal against Unirea in February.
Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina both sat out Spain’s 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia.
Krisztian Nemeth came on for Hungary in their 3-0 defeat to Germany.
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