RANGERS moved into the post-Bosman transfer market yesterday and completed their first deal under the new regulations when they arranged that 26-year-old full back Tony Vidmar would join them in the summer.

The #1m-rated Australian World Cup player will remain with his Dutch club NAC Breda for the rest of their domestic season and will be at Ibrox in July. There will be no problems over a work permit as Vidmar already holds an Italian passport, which allows him freedom of movement inside the Common Market.

The details of the deal were hammered out at Ibrox yesterday morning and announced at an afternoon press conference by manager Walter Smith.

He is the first of several new players expected to move to Rangers before the new season. Smith has already held talks with Sweden's international captain Jonas Thern, currently seeing out his contract with Roma. Early indications are that the midfielder will agree to the Glasgow club's offer and yesterday Smith said: ''We are waiting to hear from the player, but this deal is completed after working out the personal terms for the player this morning.

''We looked at the player earlier in the season after he had been recommended to us and then the winter break arrived in Holland.

''At the weekend we initiated talks with the player - who is free to speak to other clubs under the new rules governing freedom of movement - and this is the result. We did not want to delay too long.''

It was the swiftness of Smith's move which caught rival clubs by surprise. Borussia Moenchengladbach and Alemania Bielefeld in Germany and Utrecht in Holland, rapidly emerging as a major financial player in the Dutch League, all wanted the defender, who can play comfortably in either full-back position.

However, Smith dispelled the notion that Vidmar was being signed as a direct replacement for Rangers' own out-of-contract left back David Robertson. He pointed out: ''I have begun negotiations with David Robertson regarding a new contract. We want him to stay. Tony is not only a left back, he can play right back, and also as a central defender. Most of his appearances for his country have been on the right side. This is not a replacement signing for David.''

However, Smith does at least know that he has cover available if Robertson did decide to leave Rangers under the same conditions as the Australian has arrived.

Vidmar himself confirmed that he can play in both full-back positions, adding: ''I prefer left back and I do like going forward, but Australia have used me mainly on the other side.

''Although attacking is one of my main strengths, I still feel happy about my defensive capabilities. I don't neglect them.

''When I heard that Rangers were interested in me, I did not have to think too hard about making a decision. They are a club with a tremendous tradition, with a fantastic support, and also a club who want to get to the top in European football. They are ambitious and so am I, and this is a challenge I am ready to take on.''

Vidmar had a previous spell in European football - he spent a season with Ekeren in Belgium - but that was some years back, immediately following the Barcelona Olympics. He was unhappy there and returned to Australia before joining NAC Breda two years ago.

He has signed a four-year deal with Rangers and said: ''I know that British football is demanding. I learned that when I played for Australia at Hampden last season. That did give me a hint of what I can expect but I am sure that I shall be able to handle anything.''

Vidmar began his career with Adelaide City, progressed through the Australian Olym-pic team, and then on to the World Cup team, as well as making his mark in the Dutch first division.

The initial recommendation to Rangers came from the former Australian team manager Eddie Thomson, who is now coaching a club in Japan. But yesterday, before agreeing the deal, his international team-mate Craig Moore offered him a sales pitch on Rangers' behalf.

But Vidmar revealed: ''I did not need to be sold on this club. It's where I want to continue my career.''