|
|
Rangers TargetsAntti Niemi
Antti Niemi
The curse of Ibrox has hit again. Goalkeeping target Antti Niemi was knocked unconscious in a league game for his club FC Copenhagen yesterday. The player may miss the next month after suffering a fractured skull.
It seems increasingly likely that goalkeeper Oscar Moens will not sign for Rangers. His agent Mino Riaola said, "Rangers will now have to make a move, because I don't call anyone. My client is worth more than the offer. We are a long way apart. It was a good offer but not good enough and they knew that before we came over."
Walter Smith responded, "I would not say the situation cannot be resolved but if we don't sign Oscar Moens, we will sign another 'keeper." If the club fails to sign Moens they may switch their attention to Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi who plays for FC Copenhagen. Walter Smith spoke to the Danish club yesterday but will have to act quickly because the player is in Coventry at the moment trying to seal a £500,000 deal.
Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi will decide this morning whether he will become the latest addition to the growing foreign legion at Ibrox. The 25 year old international 'keeper had talks with Coventry yesterday then sent his agent to Glasgow to talk to Rangers. Walter Smith is expected to match the English club's £600,000 bid and offer to top any personal terms Niemi has been offered. The Ibrox manager has already targetted another goalkeeper in case the deal falls through. Niemi's choice is made more difficult because he would almost be guaranteed first team football at Coventry while he might struggle to make it into the Rangers side.
Finnish boss Richard Moller-Nielsen urged Niemi to snub Coventry and move to Ibrox. He said, "if it was down to me there would be no choice, I'd move to Rangers. My son Tommy knows Antti well and I speak with Walter Smith so he knows about him. He's a really promising up and coming goalkeeper and he has good reactions and an eye for the game. If Rangers get him they will have pulled off a great signing."
Rangers yesterday signed Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi from FC Copenhagen for £750,000. Niemi signed a five year deal but admitted he had found it difficult to choose between Rangers and Coventry who had both been trying to secure his services. He said, "I slept only two hours last night. It was awful. I had two great clubs to choose from and it was difficult to make the decision. I only wish I could have joined them both. I eventually got to sleep in the early hours of Friday morning. In the end, the prospect of playing in Europe was too strong. Hopefully, I'll be playing in the Champions League next season, and the year after that, and the year after that."
"There are very exciting times ahead for the club and I'm looking forward to playing with so many quality players. I spoke with Finland manager Richard Moller-Nielsen about my choice, but in the end I made my own decision and I'm happy with it. It's very difficult to set out all my targets when I've only been here two minutes. But I aim to push Andy hard as competition for places is always good. Andy's a brilliant keeper, he showed that when he played so well in Euro 96. It's going to be difficult, but I've been given the chance and I've got to take it."
|
