Rangers in talks over Tommy Smith deal
Scottish Premier League Rangers are in talks with Portsmouth over the transfer of striker Tommy Smith, it has been confirmed.
Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou told reporters that: "There has been dialogue and that will continue. We'll see where it goes." Rangers had placed a bid believed to be around £300,000 for the player earlier this summer, but that was rejected out of hand by the Football League Championship outfit.
Last season’s SPL champions have not given up hope of signing 30-year-old Smith however, as manager Walter Smith looks for consistent strikers to replace the departed Kris Boyd – the SPL’s all-time leading scorer – and Nacho Novo who has left Ibrox for Sporting Gijon. Rangers have been in discussions with Rapid Vienna over the transfer of Nikica Jelavic as well, and both forwards could end up in Glasgow before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.
Started in season opener
Smith arrived at Portsmouth last summer, but has not impressd after scoring just once in 19 games. He was in the starting line-up for Pompey’s defeat away to Coventry City in the first match of the Championship season and is also a reported target for Queens Park Rangers.
The forward can also play as a winger on the right side of the pitch and will add versatility to Rangers’ thread-bare squad which saw six players depart this summer. Smith is regarded as a player with plenty of pace and is said to prefer a passing style of play while he can strike with either foot. Smith spent most of his career at Watford, with spells at Sunderland and Derby County in between, before moving to Portsmouth. His best season in front of goal came in the 2008-09 season where he netted 17 times in 44 league games for Watford.
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