Walter's eyes on Loovens: Rangers boss turns to Cardiff stopper

Dutchman Loovens is an option under active consideration by Ibrox manager Walter Smith after the club refused to accept Watford star Shittu's reputed demands of £25,000 per week. 

Rangers target: Cardiff's Glenn Loovens (left) takes on Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov

The 24-year-old moved to Cardiff from Feyenoord in 2005 and has established himself as one of the most commanding defenders in the Championship.

He has refused to sign a new three-year contract with the club and has 12 months left on his current deal.

A move to Ibrox would be highly attractive to Loovens, a Dutch Under- 21 international, who is also attracting interest from newly-promoted Premiership sides Hull City and Stoke City. 

Cardiff still have not given up hope of landing Ibrox striker Kris Boyd, despite having a £2.5m offer thrown out earlier this summer, but it remains to be seen whether they could now tempt Rangers into a deal by putting forward Loovens as part of the package.

The player was highly regarded as a youngster at Feyenoord and was part of the squad which lifted the UEFA Cup in season 2001/02.

A subsequent loss of form saw him shipped out of the club but he is anxious to return to a higher level of football after three successful years in Wales, capped by a key role in helping Cardiff to last season's FA Cup Final.

He was the subject of a failed £1m bid from an unnamed Championship-club last season, but Rangers know that Cardiff are unlikely to risk losing the player for nothing when his contract expires next year and may now move in.