Capucho close to Rangers switch

Porto winger Nuno Capucho expects to become a Rangers player in the next few days.

The 31-year-old, who helped his side beat Celtic to lift the UEFA Cup, is preparing to say his farewells following the Portuguese Cup final at the weekend.

He will then fly into Glasgow with the intention of completing a deal believed to be worth £800,000 (€1,135,000).

He said: “Porto have talked to Rangers and they have an agreement. I am very happy because Rangers are a great club and it will give me a lot of pleasure to play for them.

“For me, Glasgow is fantastic.”

Defender Arthur Numan was less happy however and claimed he had been forced out of the club by director of football business Martin Bain.

The Dutchman turned down a number of new contract suggestions from Bain before deciding to quit.

He said: “The good feeling I had with the club was starting to dwindle. I began to get the idea they were using me because I really wanted to stay.

“In the last couple of weeks they have not left me alone but it is too late. It is a shame the way things have ended.”

Meanwhile, striker Shota Arveladze has been released from a Dublin hospital after collapsing on the team bus following Georgia’s 2-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland.