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FOOTBALL ROUND-UP
RANGERS will parade their new player, Jorg Albertz, at Ibrox early next week, but the German internationalist has already said he expects to continue his progress in spectacular fashion when he plays in the premier division and also in the European Cup, writes James Traynor.
All negotiations have been completed between Rangers, Hamburg, who have accepted the Scottish club's #4m offer, and the midfield player, who stopped off at Ibrox on Thursday to have a look at his new environment on the way home from Euro96.
Albertz was the last player to be cut from Berti Vogts' initial training squad before he pruned his group to the numbers demanded by UEFA, but the German national team coach believes the 25-year-old will figure in Germany's World Cup plans. Albertz, whose new deal is for four years, watched Germany beat England at Wembley in the European Championship semi-final before travelling to Glasgow, where he had talks with David Murray.
Yesterday, however, Hamburg held a press conference at which it was confirmed Albertz, who is reported to be about to earn #12,500 a week with Rangers, would be leaving and he told German newspapers: ``I can play as well in Scotland as I did in Germany. I have confidence in my ability.
``I am very excited about playing for Rangers although I am sad to be leaving Hamburg, but the offer Rangers made was to good to turn down.''
Rangers were waiting yesterday for a fax from Hamburg confirming their acceptance of the transfer fee, but Albertz, who is said to be a dead-ball expert, will be a Rangers player, unlike Fernando Couto, whose attitude has not impressed either Murray or the Ibrox club's manager, Walter Smith. The Portuguese player has exhausted their patience and will not be signing. Instead, Couto is set to join French club Marseilles.
q.SCOTLAND striker Scott Booth will be sold - if any club meets Aberdeen's #2m price tag, writes Ian Broadley.
Booth has another year of his contract to run, but the Pittodrie club are desperate to cash in before the transfer system collapses in the wake of the Bosman ruling.
Booth has already revealed his desire to move on and play in the Premiership when his current deal runs out, but the Dons are prepared to give him his wish, if the price is right.
Manager Roy Aitken said: ``Booth has not been transfer-listed and remains a major part of our plans, but discussions will be held with the player. What I am looking for most is for players to show they are committed to Aberdeen in the long term.''
The Pittodrie chief is also ready to do a U-turn yet again over defender Gary Smith, who has twice rejected his offers.
Aitken, who put him up for sale after the snubs, said: ``I want Smith to tell us exactly where we stand. I want him to stay.''
Aberdeen restarted training yesterday, but Booth and captain Stewart McKimmie - who both were on Scotland duty at Euro96 - will not link up with their team-mates for another two weeks.
q.DUNDEE star Dusan Vrto looks set to quit Dens Park and rejoin former club Banik Ostrava. The 30-year-old, who is out of contract with the Tayside club, could be back in the Czech Republic next week.
q.PARTICK Thistle's Steve Welsh last night rejoined Peterborough after having agreed terms with the Endsleigh League side.
Although Welsh enjoyed his time at Firhill, he revealed he is delighted to be returning south. He said: ``It's no secret I never wanted to leave Peterborough in the first place.''
q.CRAIG Napier, the former Clyde, Hamilton, Kilmarnock, and Ayr player, has been told to quit football because of a serious ankle injury.
He said: ``I have been to five specialists and they have all warned me not to play again. I cannot argue with that.''
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