Liverpool want to know if Alan Hutton will reject every Premiership bid for his services this month after his shock decision to snub £9million interest from Spurs.
But one Ibrox player who is sweeter on making a switch south is Brahim Hemdani — and former Rangers manager Alex McLeish is ready to grant him his wish of playing in England by taking the midfielder to Birmingham.
Rangers are aware it is the Anfield club, and not Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, lying in wait to offer Hutton top-flight riches down south and Walter Smith the opportunity to recoup his entire spending from last summer.
The interest has been lodged with the 23-year-old's agent, John Lonergan, who saw a transfer to Tottenham collapse on Thursday night, despite Rangers accepting the record offer.
As Sportsmail revealed on December 2, Spurs were prepared to match the Ibrox asking price and did so after failing with a bid of £6m, plus a selection of Spurs fringe players.
But Hutton has told colleagues that a desire to win the title at Rangers this season was the chief reason behind his stunning decision to reject a £30,000-a-week contract from White Hart Lane and that may yet keep Rafa Benitez waiting until the summer.
The Liverpool boss, while making left-back a priority in the next few weeks, wants to improve his lot on the other flank where Steve Finnan is the only genuine performer. Reports on Hutton have been glowing enough to merit making their interest abundantly clear.
That option presenting itself may go some way to explaining why Spurs were blanked by the player. A move to the northwest of England may then appeal more than London for the young full-back in what now seems an inevitable lucrative move across the border.
However, midfield class act Hemdani has no such concerns over a move.
He wanted away in August but was persuaded to stay on by boss Smith's insistence that his experience was vital to helping his Champions League rookies in Europe, although he was considered surplus to requirements by the manager for the majority of domestic duties.
With that thrill gone, Hemdani believes the coast should now be clear to begin the latest chapter of his career and Birmingham will be willing participants.
Hemdani has 18 months of the deal he signed under McLeish at Ibrox remaining and is the second-highest earner at the club behind captain Barry Ferguson, so now would be the logical time to cash in, although his qualities would be a loss.
If his departure looks inevitable, Smith will want a replacement lined up on loan at the very least and that brings Napoli's former Chelsea man Sam Dalla Bonna into the picture.
He was watched by Rangers before the Serie A winter shutdown. The other fear in the midfield department is Kevin Thomson's proximity to a suspension and Hemdani could be a late play in January with that in mind.
But one Ibrox player who is sweeter on making a switch south is Brahim Hemdani — and former Rangers manager Alex McLeish is ready to grant him his wish of playing in England by taking the midfielder to Birmingham.
Rangers are aware it is the Anfield club, and not Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, lying in wait to offer Hutton top-flight riches down south and Walter Smith the opportunity to recoup his entire spending from last summer.
The interest has been lodged with the 23-year-old's agent, John Lonergan, who saw a transfer to Tottenham collapse on Thursday night, despite Rangers accepting the record offer.
As Sportsmail revealed on December 2, Spurs were prepared to match the Ibrox asking price and did so after failing with a bid of £6m, plus a selection of Spurs fringe players.
But Hutton has told colleagues that a desire to win the title at Rangers this season was the chief reason behind his stunning decision to reject a £30,000-a-week contract from White Hart Lane and that may yet keep Rafa Benitez waiting until the summer.
The Liverpool boss, while making left-back a priority in the next few weeks, wants to improve his lot on the other flank where Steve Finnan is the only genuine performer. Reports on Hutton have been glowing enough to merit making their interest abundantly clear.
That option presenting itself may go some way to explaining why Spurs were blanked by the player. A move to the northwest of England may then appeal more than London for the young full-back in what now seems an inevitable lucrative move across the border.
However, midfield class act Hemdani has no such concerns over a move.
He wanted away in August but was persuaded to stay on by boss Smith's insistence that his experience was vital to helping his Champions League rookies in Europe, although he was considered surplus to requirements by the manager for the majority of domestic duties.
With that thrill gone, Hemdani believes the coast should now be clear to begin the latest chapter of his career and Birmingham will be willing participants.
Hemdani has 18 months of the deal he signed under McLeish at Ibrox remaining and is the second-highest earner at the club behind captain Barry Ferguson, so now would be the logical time to cash in, although his qualities would be a loss.
If his departure looks inevitable, Smith will want a replacement lined up on loan at the very least and that brings Napoli's former Chelsea man Sam Dalla Bonna into the picture.
He was watched by Rangers before the Serie A winter shutdown. The other fear in the midfield department is Kevin Thomson's proximity to a suspension and Hemdani could be a late play in January with that in mind.
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