Ehiogu On Brink Of Rangers Move

By Betting Zone
January 23 2007

Middlesbrough defender and former England centre-back Ugo Ehiogu has agreed a deal to join Rangers and passed a medical with the Ibrox club.

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The are some issues to resolve with Boro before his registration is completed but Rangers expect the move to be ratified in the next couple of days.

The 34-year-old will train with his new team-mates on Tuesday and should be available for Saturday's Bank of Scotland Premier League clash against Hearts.

Ehiogu becomes Walter Smith's second signing since he left his post as Scotland boss to return to Ibrox on January 10.

The former Everton manager signed another veteran central defender when he was reunited with 36-year-old former Toffees centre-half David Weir.

And Ehiogu, who joined Boro from Aston Villa for £8million in 2000, is the third central defender to sign for the Gers this month after Andy Webster moved on loan from Wigan.

A club statement read: "Rangers FC is happy to confirm that the club has agreed personal terms with Ugo Ehiogu, who has successfully completed a medical examination.

"Rangers looks forward to completing his registration within the next few days once the player has finalised some minor details with Middlesbrough.

"The player will train with the Rangers team at Murray Park on Tuesday."

Smith said: "He will give us a bit of steel and experience.

"We need a number of players between now and the end of the season, especially as we have European matches coming up too.

"Like Davie Weir, he will help all the younger lads around him."

After falling out of favour at the Riverside, Ehiogu joined Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Leeds on loan at the end of November and played six times.

His loan ended in January and he has since made one substitute appearance in the Teessiders' FA Cup win over Hull.

The former West Brom player won four caps for England and former Rangers striker John MacDonald believes Ugo Ehiogu will prove to be a good signing.

He said: "I would have loved Rangers to sign Ehiogu when he was playing for England because I thought he was a great player then.

"But he is still a good player now so it is still a good signing.

"In the short term it will help Walter shore up the defence before he sees who he can bring in during the summer.

"But in saying that, 34 is nothing for a player these days.

"As long as he doesn't pick up an injury like Andy Webster did after he signed at the turn of the year then I don't see a problem.

"Central defenders don't run all over the pitch so he could be good for three or four years yet.

"You just have to look at David Weir still playing at nearly 37.

"Ehiogu reads the game well and he will bring experience to the defence although, to be fair, Rangers haven't lost a goal since Walter returned."

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.