SPL: Ball in Rangers court

Michael Ball could travel to Scotland later today if Everton and Rangers agree a fee that would take the England international to Ibrox.

Everton boss Walter Smith today confirmed discussions had taken place between the clubs, but claimed agreement on a possible £7m fee had not so far been reached.

Smith said: "The club are in discussions, and we will just have to wait and see what happens.

"Whether the player opens talks with the club depends on us reaching agreement, which last night we were not far from."

Everton turned down a £5m bid from Middlesbrough last week, and links with a possible move from Liverpool have been steadfastly played down by the Anfield club, with suggestions that the would prefer to wait for a year to allow the full back’s contract - which has two years to go - winding down further.

But with Rangers deeply involved for the player, who they would like to sign by tomorrow to make him eligible for the Champions League third qualifying round game with Fenerbahce - providing Rangers complete their victory over Maribor tonight after a 3-0 first leg success - both Boro and Liverpool must now move quickly to stay in the hunt.

Everton desperately need to raise cash for their own transfer targets, and the price tag for Ball seems the only way they can achieve their aims.

But whether Ball, who has seen his friend Francis Jeffers move to Arsenal, would want to play in the Scottish Premier League is open to question.

There are even doubts about whether he will be fit for the start of the season anyway. He has so far not played in pre-season friendlies and did not travel to Everton’s Italian training camp last month.

Ball has been suffering from a knee strain, has missed much of the club’s pre-season training and is not likely to be fit for next week’s Champions League third qualifying round anyway.