FOOTBALL
BARCA IN THREE WAY FIGHT FOR BOUGHERRA
Bougherra is being lined up for a summer move to Spain that could net Rangers a small fortune
By Andy McInnes
MADJID Bougherra is being lined up for a dream summer move to Spain that could net Rangers a small fortune.
The Ibrox defender is wanted by no fewer than three clubs including top guns Barcelona who are ready to fight it out with Seville and Real Betis for the 27 year old's signature.
Bougherra who is currently rated at £5m caught the eye of all three outfits after his impressive performances during the African Nations Cup .
Having already been named Arabian Player of 2009 after helping Gers win the Double and inspiring Algeria into the World Cup finals his reputation not to mention value could rocket further by the end of this season.
Barca team coach Pep Guardiola had him watched during the Desert Foxes' 3-2 African Nations Cup quarter-final win over the Ivory Coast 16 days ago and has since studied videos of him playing for both club and country.
And now the Nou Camp boss plans to monitor the former Charlton defender during the rest of the season at Rangers and also follow his progress in South Africa during the summer.
Barca won an unprecedented SIX trophies last year including the Champions League, La Liga , Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup but want to strenghten at the back as the long term future of £17m Gabriel Milito is in doubt following his return from a 19 month spell out with a cruciate knee injury.
Sources in both Spain and Algeria confirmed the current La Liga leaders' interest in the France-born player, who has also had spells with Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday revealing that a final decision on Bougherra will be taken after the Presidential elections in June.
Barca won an unprecedented SIX trophies last year, including the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey and FIFA Club World Cup.
Seville though have already made contact with Bougherra's agent and while he has previously voiced his interest in moving back to the Premier League at the end of the season the prospect of moving to Spain would be irresistible to the defender who has been one of Rangers' best players since his £2.5m arrival from Charlton in 2008.
