Rangers land Thomson

Rangers tonight stole in front of Old Firm rivals Celtic to sign Hibernian’s in-demand midfielder Kevin Thomson.

The 22-year-old had been the subject of a failed bid from Celtic, the Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders, as well as interest from Coca-Cola Championship outfit West Brom.

But he clinched a transfer to Ibrox after Hibernian, who had been confident of keeping Thomson and fellow midfielder Scott Brown until the end of the season, reluctantly agreed to his departure.

After David Weir and Ugo Ehiogu, Thomson becomes manager Walter Smith’s third signing since returning to the club on January 10, and the club announced he had signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The sale comes at a potentially unsettling time for Hibernian, who face St Johnstone tomorrow night in the CIS Insurance Cup semi-finals.

However Hibernian have promised supporters there is no chance of Brown following Thomson out of the club before tomorrow night’s transfer deadline.

Hibernian manager John Collins said: “I have been fully involved in the discussions and I am happy that our valuation has been matched for the player.”

Collins told Hibernian’s club website, www.hibernianfc.co.uk: “I am confident we have a squad that is well capable of competing in the important games that lie ahead and that we can continue the good run of form till the end of the season.”

Rangers could complete a second swoop on Edinburgh tomorrow, with Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley set to join if the clubs can find common ground on a transfer fee.

Scotland international Hartley, 30, was left out of the Hearts team which faced Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, as Hearts decided to offload one of their most marketable assets.