Advocaat urges Amoruso to stay

Lorenzo Amoruso's move has been an on-off affair

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has urged Lorenzo Amoruso to stay at the club and help in the fight to retain the Scottish Premier League title.

The Italian defender almost joined West Ham United in a £3.2m deal but could not agree personal terms with the Londoners.

Amoruso had insisted that he is still negotiating with the English Premiership club, who insist he must reduce his wage demands.

But that avenue appeared to be closing on Wednesday when West Ham paid £800,000 to Norwegian side Bryne for their national Under-21 captain, Raggy Soma.

End of the season

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has wanted to add two defenders to replace Rio Ferdinand but is poised to add Scotland international Christian Dailly from Blackburn Rovers.

Dick Advocaat has criticised Amoruso

Advocaat wants Amoruso to put any thoughts of leaving out of his mind until the end of the season.

"Lorenzo has had 14 days to find himself another club and he could not get a deal, so I hope that he gets on with his career with Rangers," said the manager.

Advocaat has often been painted as being less than enthusiastic about Amoruso's abilities.

Close go going

But he said: "I hope he now stays with the club and then in June, at the end of the season, we can look at things again.

"This is not the first time that Lorenzo has come close to going.

"It was the same with Sunderland at the start of this season and nothing happened then either.

"If he wants to leave then he can leave, but let's make it at the end of the season so that we can all concentrate on what we have to do."