SPL: No Rangers deal for Espartero

Alex McLeish has decided not to make trialist Mario Espartero his first Rangers signing.

Alex McLeish has decided not to make Mario Espartero his first Rangers signing.

McLeish had been looking at securing Espartero on loan from Metz until the end of the season, but he was looking for a permanent move.

The midfielder trained with the first-team squad and took part in a practice match, but has now left Scotland.

McLeish said: "A loan was the road we wanted to go down but it seems that he is looking for a permanent deal. We are not in a position to do that so he will now look elsewhere."

Espartero had previously had an unsuccessful trial at Blackburn and is out-of-favour at Metz, where he has been branded a disruptive dressing room influence.