Rangers buy De Boer for £6 million

Glasgow Rangers are to sign Ronald De Boer from FC Barcelona today for £6 million.

The transfer has been rushed through to allow Rangers to register the former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder in time for the Champions League after overnight talks between the Scottish champions and De Boer's agents.

The player has been unhappy at Barca since the resignation of Louis Van Gaal and has talked up a move to the Premiership with Manchester United recently.

However, Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has helped to prepare the £6 million package that sees De Boer arrive in Glasgow today for a medical before signing a four yeear contract.

Manchester United are still interested but the deal with Rangers has now reached an advanced stage.

The player is with the Dutch squad in Hoenderloo where he is preparing for Saturday night's 2002 World Cup qualifier against Ireland. He has broken from training today though to fly to Scotland and complete his move to Rangers.

The sale of De Boer could see Barcelona now decide to keep his fellow Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden who has turned down an offer from Fiorentina to try and push through a transfer to Lazio this week.