Ball's Ibrox move on hold

Ball must prove his fitness before Rangers move

Rangers will give Everton full back Michael Ball another seven to 10 days to prove his fitness before making a decision on the proposed £6.5m deal for the England international.

Ball is currently recovering from a knee injury and Rangers want to be certain that there is no long term problem.

Talking to the club's official website, Rangers chairman David Murray said: "Perhaps we have endeavoured to push this transfer for a variety of reasons.

"But taking all relevant matters into consideration including several past situations, I must be 100% satisfied of the player's ability to sign and make an impact in playing, which we believe will be the case."

The Ibrox club have been embarrassed in the recent past by big money transfers who were troubled by injury before their arrivals in Glasgow.

Rangers shelled out large sums for Romanian defender Daniel Prodan in 1998 and Chilean striker Sebastian Rozental in 1996.

Prodan failed to play a single first-team game during two-and-a-half years in Scotland and Rozental managing only a handfull of appearances before both men quietly moved on.

Ronald de Boer missed much of last season because of a knee problem he brought with him a year ago when he made his £4.5million switch from Barcelona.

International prospects

Ball, who has already agreed personal terms with Rangers, will remain in Scotland working with the club's medical team.

The versatile Ball, who can perform at left back, centre half and in midfield, had earlier expressed concerns that the move would affect his fledgling England career.

But Rangers manager Dick Advocaat assured Ball he had nothing to fear over his international prospects.

"Players who had played in England and started playing in Scotland realise how difficult the Scottish League is," he said.

"Ask [Chris] Sutton. He said last week that he realised when he started playing here how difficult it was.

Extremely positive

"Most of the competition is more difficult than in England."

Earlier, Advocaat had spoken of his admiration for the player.

"He is one of the most promising players in England in that position and he has done extremely well for Walter Smith," said the Rangers manager.

He has been involved in the England set-up and he will be a great addition to the squad

Craig Moore
Rangers defender

"He is a young player with a lot of talent and for the future of us that is very important."

Rangers' Australian defender, Craig Moore, says he would welcome the arrival of a player of Ball's calibre at Ibrox.

Moore said reports from Everton's former Rangers defender, Alex Cleland, had been extremely positive about Ball.

"He has been involved in the England set-up and he will be a great addition to the squad if that does go through," added Moore.

"He can play at left full-back in a flat-back four, which we have been playing, or he can play further forward in a wing-back type of midfield role.

"It's another player who will come into a big squad and it will be very hard to get into the team, but obviously he will be coming here to try and prove himself and to get involved as well."