Rangers barter on price for Jardel

Rangers are bartering with Sporting Lisbon over the price of striker Mario Jardel according to the player’s agent.

The Ibrox side are reportedly only willing to shell out £1.5m (€2m) for the player while the Portuguese club are looking for an extra £500,000 (€698,000).

Manager Alex McLeish is desperately searching for greater firepower ahead of the defence of the SPL title and the Champions League.

But, despite urging the club to release more money after the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final win over Dundee, McLeish is still having to watch what he spends at the club.

Jardel’s representative, Carlos Ganela, told BBC Sport Online: “Sporting Lisbon are holding out for more money.

“There is a crisis in the transfer market at the moment. Sporting want £2m for Jardel but Rangers want to pay £1.5m.”

Jardel has been beset with personal problems this season after being treated for depression after his marriage break-up.

He succeeded Celtic striker Henrik Larsson as the Golden Shoe award winner in 2002 as Sporting completed the double in Portugal.