Rangers close in on Lafferty

Rangers are expected to make Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty their third striker signing of the summer.

Manager Walter Smith has already landed Kenny Miller and Andrius Velicka for next season, and the signing of 20-year-old Northern Ireland striker Lafferty would further bolster his attacking options.

Rangers, Celtic and Wolves have all targeted Lafferty this summer and the Ibrox side could clinch a deal for the 6ft 4in attacker this week.

The frontman should cost Rangers over £3million, which would take the club's spending since the end of last season to above £6million.

The arrival of Lafferty, who scored five goals in 40 games for Burnley last season, would raise further questions over the future of the strikers who helped Rangers clinch a domestic cup double.

Kris Boyd, Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville were interchanged last season as Smith shuffled his line-up, and could be no longer required.

Former Hearts frontman Velicka is determined to become a Rangers idol with Old Firm derby goals for his new club, after agreeing a move from Norwegian side Viking.

He scored three goals for Hearts against Celtic last season, including a double at Parkhead which knocked Gordon Strachan's team out of the CIS Insurance Cup.

Velicka told the Scottish Sun: "I've done it in the past and hopefully I can do it again.

"I scored a few goals for Hearts against Celtic and in the Edinburgh derby against Hibs. But to score for Rangers against Celtic would be a bigger feeling than anything I have experienced in football."