|
|
Rangers SquadJonas Thern
Jonas Thern
Date of Birth: ?
Rangers are set to snap up 29 year old Swedish skipper Jonas Thern. The Ibrox side have put together a package to try to tempt the Roma midfielder when his contract runs out in the summer.
The man who holds the key is his agent Vicenzo Morabito who has already brought Laudrup, Albertz, Bjorklund and Andersen to Ibrox. He said that "Paris St Germain and Borussia Moenchengladbach have come in with offers. Money is the main concern for Jonas. He's an intelligent man and it is important for him to be happy.
Swedish star Jonas Thern has been turned on to a move to Ibrox by international team mate Joachim Bjorklund. Thern is valued at £3 million but his present contract with Roma expires in the summer. Thern's wife insisted last night that he had not made any decisions but admitted "Jonas and his agent Vicenzo Morabito have discussed a move to Glasgow within the last week."
Jonas Thern has insisted he would rather join Rangers than Celtic. Thern said "I am aware of Rangers' interest in me and have discussed a move to them with my agent in the last few days. I know both clubs are great rivals but if it came to making a choice, I would choose to join Rangers. I would like to play in the Champions League again and Rangers would be the most likely place to achieve that."
He added "Ibrox is a magnificent stadium with a good atmosphere. I spoke to Joachim Bjorklund the last time we were together with Sweden and he tells me good things about Rangers. I would have to be interested in going there if they want me."
Archie Knox refused to confirm Rangers interest in Thern but revealed they would be looking around for players in the next few months.
Jonas Thern looks set to agree to a move to Ibrox. He is being offered £39,000 per week before tax in a bid to lure him away from his preferred choice of a move back to Sweden.
Thern said "Rangers have made me a very good offer and I will make a definite announcement in the next couple of days. Rangers are rivalling Manchester United as the biggest club in the UK right now. I am very keen to be a part of the rebuilding process going on at the club."
Jonas Thern has pledged to let Rangers know within a fortnight whether he will sign for them in the summer. Walter Smith was in Rome on Monday to meet the Swede and Francesco Moriero who are both out of contract with Roma at the end of the season. Walter Smith confirmed he had made an offer but said it was not £39,000 per week as had been reported.
Thern hinted that he is almost certain to say yes to the move. He said, "It's fair to say there is a very good chance that I'll be signing for Rangers, much better than 50-50."
Thern also begged Walter Smith not to let Paul Gascoigne leave at the end of the season. He said, "Paul and I are different types of players. He is more skilful than I am and I'm sure we'd work well in the same midfield. I am more defensive than Gazza, who has an incredible amount of fantasy in his play. To play alongside him would be a good thing for me."
Jonas Thern will agree to sign for Rangers in the next 10 days after being offered £22,000 a week. Thern still insists he is mulling over the move but he admitted he cannot see any other club competing with Rangers offer. Although he will commit himself to Rangers immediately his move will not be finalised until his contract with Roma runs out in July.
Jonas Thern has cleared the way for a move to Ibrox. He had been interested in joining Sven Goran Eriksson at Blackburn Rovers but the Sampdoria manager's about turn means that Thern doesn't want to go to Ewood Park. He said "I am no longer interested in joining Blackburn Rovers. When I heard Eriksson would not be joining them as manager I could no longer consider going there."
Jonas Thern admitted he is almost certain to join Rangers. He said "I'm happy to sign the contract Rangers have offered me and I hope to do that in the next few weeks. If I get three or four days off from Roma I'd like to come to Glasgow. If I'm to transfer to Scotland I have to sort out things like schools for my children."
Jonas Thern has pledged himself to Ibrox for next season. Thern has turned down a new deal from Roma and told Swedish reporters "I have decided on Glasgow Rangers. Other teams have shown an interest, but only Rangers came up with a quick and concrete offer. There are only a few legal matters left before I sign."
In a phone call to Scottish radio and t.v. pundit Jim White, Jonas Thern has revealed that he will sign for Rangers within the next fortnight. He will be busy preparing for Roma's match with Juventus for the next week but hopes to visit Glasgow the following week when he will finally put pen to paper.
Swedish captain Jonas Thern will sign for Rangers next week. The Roma midfielder will fly into Glasgow next Thursday after Sweden's friendly match with France in Paris. Thern sustained a broken nose after 10 minutes of Roma's match with Bologna on Sunday which will rule him out for three weeks.
Thern said "I've already told my agent that my mind is made up and that I will sign for Rangers. The contract has been worked out and now all I have to do is get over to Glasgow to finalise everything. This injury gives me the chance to do that."
Jonas Thern hopes to visit Glasgow next week to watch Rangers take on Motherwell at Ibrox. Thern said "there are problems with Roma at the moment because we have lost our last three games. I don't think they would regard it as a good idea for me to fly over to Scotland. However on Sunday we play Lazio in a local derby, and if we win that game it would be easier to leave Italy for a day as everyone will be really happy.
He continued, "I'd really like to be in Scotland when Rangers win the title but there are no problems about the move, the deal is already done. I haven't spoken to Walter Smith lately but he is expected at the game tonight so maybe afterwards we can finalise the details."
|
