Buffel "gone to" Brugge, Smith on the transfer window

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Buffel set for Brugge move

THOMAS BUFFEL was today on the verge of a move to Club Brugge.

The Belgian midfielder was told to find a new club by manager Walter Smith as Rangers try to get his £17,000-a-week wages off the bill.

And the player, who signed from Feyenoord for £2.2m in January 2005, is believed to have struck a deal to return to his homeland.

Meanwhile Carlos Cuellar returned to Glasgow today to prepare for the beginning of his pre-season with Rangers.

And the Spanish star has pledged his future to the Ibrox club - with his agent insisting the 26-year-old defender is going nowhere.

Cuellar has been linked with £9million moves to Sunderland and Newcastle after an outstanding debut season last time around.

There has also been talk of Rangers offering him a wage rise and contract extension, as they did with Allan McGregor last week to secure another of their prize assets. But fans fears that Cuellar would be sold for major money this summer appear to be unfounded, with the former Osasuna man extremely happy with life in Scotland.

His agent, Pedro Bravo, said today: "Every footballer in the world would take more money if it was offered. Carlos isn't driven by that.

"He is happy with the money, the terms and the length of the contract at Rangers so there will be no talks, I have already told Rangers he wants to stay in Glasgow.

"Carlos has found happiness in his life. And in Walter Smith he has a coach who he does not only respect him professionally, but also as a human being. That's why he is content.

"I told them all at the Uefa Cup Final that Carlos will never seek a move from Rangers.

"There may come a day when Rangers have an unbelievable offer that works for them and Carlos. But unless that happens, he is staying."

Smith has insisted he still has money to burn after spending £6.25m on Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty.

He wants to bring in more new faces, although the exact number will be determined by who goes.

He said: "The transfer deadline's got two months to go, so there's bound to be a bit of movement.The budget we have has been agreed. We have spent a bit, and there is a bit left.

"We are not finished. We will not get too many more, but there are one or two positions we would like to strengthen.

"Clubs are not inclined to sell at this stage. If they wait they may feel there is more financial pressure for the buying club and prices can rise."

His striker signings have led to speculation that Kris Boyd, Lee McCulloch, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Daniel Cousin could all leave.

Smith has already rejected a £2.5m bid for Boyd from Cardiff and insisted: "We've never said we would let him go.

"As for Lee, Stoke haven't been in touch and he is not going there. I don't know about Darcheville."

Smith reported veterans Davie Weir and Christian Dailly should agree one-year contract extenstions this week.

9:33am today

[Frankie 505]

Isn't it Cercle Brugge that want Buffel?

[Guest therabbitt]

Encouraging words in part from Cuellar's agent in there also

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Encouraging words in part from Cuellar's agent in there also

Yep.

[Gaffbear 4,096]

Good news about Cuellar and Boyd...bad news about McCulloch and Buffel

[Polo 1,433]

Interesting comment on JCD. Not leaping to his defence the way he has with McCulloch

[Frankie 505]

Hearing Buffel did actually have better offers from Club Brugge and Germinal Beerschot.

But he did his youth training at Cercle and is a supporter of them. The story goes he has taken a massive drop in salary but any future transfer money, earned by him, will be his.

[bluelizzielou 0]

Happy with that article, although, I may question LMcC

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Cercle Brugge have announced the capture of Thomas Buffel from Rangers.

The Belgian midfielder has agreed a two-year contract with his former club and will be presented to the media on Tuesday evening.

A number of options were open to the 27-year-old, who leaves Ibrox after three years despite having another season left on his contract.

"Cercle Brugge reached an agreement at noon today with Glasgow Rangers for the transfer of Thomas Buffel," spokesman Pol van den Driessche told RTL.

The former Feyenoord man was with Cercle as a youngster but made his name in Holland before securing a £2.3 million switch to Glasgow.

The transfer has already been announced on the club's official website.

[Boab 73]

Id change the thread title to something more official, Oleg.

[bluejeff 16]

Cercle Brugge have announced the capture of Thomas Buffel from Rangers.

The Belgian midfielder has agreed a two-year contract with his former club and will be presented to the media on Tuesday evening.

A number of options were open to the 27-year-old, who leaves Ibrox after three years despite having another season left on his contract.

"Cercle Brugge reached an agreement at noon today with Glasgow Rangers for the transfer of Thomas Buffel," spokesman Pol van den Driessche told RTL.

The former Feyenoord man was with Cercle as a youngster but made his name in Holland before securing a £2.3 million switch to Glasgow.

The transfer has already been announced on the club's official website.

all the best thomas

[papaguy51 912]

Celtic are on the verge of selling Sno for £1.5m, and we're letting Buffel go for hee haw.

You do wonder what's going on at times. Still, at least it's £17k a week off the list.

[Boab 73]

Thomas Buffel - Another sad indictment of Walter Smith's 2nd reign in charge.

[docspiderman 1,228]

Van Der Broeck is there on trial after we released him.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

From the official Cercle Brugge site:

Thomas Buffel is back home.(Tue 01 July 2008 at 14:00) - Belgian international Thomas Buffel, youth product of Cercle Bruges, plays the next 2 seasons again for Green and Black.

Cercle Bruges and the Scottish Glasgow Rangers reached an agreement on this today.

It is the absolute ambition to Cercle Bruges next season to run again in the upper echelons of the rankings. With a winner as Thomas Buffel in the ranks is Cercle Bruges additionally armed.

Previously Cercle Bruges already knew all the club's talents are signed for longer to foster loyalty and the team signed Vidarsson, Fernandez and Coppens whose previous contracts expired.

Thomas will be this evening at 18h30 in the home building presented to the press.

Richard Doeven

[stewballs 0]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

[trueblue87 0]

Celtic are on the verge of selling Sno for £1.5m, and we're letting Buffel go for hee haw.

You do wonder what's going on at times. Still, at least it's £17k a week off the list.

Shocking ... especially when you consider that Buffel is pretty much the type of player we need and should be looking for.

And if Sno is worth 1.5m we should be looking at 10+m for Tom.

[Frankie 505]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

Because no-one wanted him?

[Gaffbear 4,096]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

Can someone explain why our best attacking midfielder has gone and McCulloch is being kept.....flabergasted!!!!!!!!

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

That hasn't been confirmed yet, but I'd suspect a nominal fee since nobody else wanted to take him on and he's on £17k pw.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

Can someone explain why our best attacking midfielder has gone and McCulloch is being kept.....flabergasted!!!!!!!!

...because Walter knows much better than you or I.

[stewballs 0]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

Because no-one wanted him?

Well I know one club that can use a bloody attacking midfielder with some vision and is comfortable on the ball in the final third!

Any guesses?

[Andy 69]

"There may come a day when Rangers have an unbelievable offer that works for them and Carlos. But unless that happens, he is staying."

What is Unbeleivable in Murrays eyes ?

£10 Mill ?

[Frankie 505]

Well I know one club that can use a bloody attacking midfielder with some vision and is comfortable on the ball in the final third!

Any guesses?

Obviously we didn't want him and, if it's all the same, I'll go with Walter's knowledge over yours....

[Boab 73]

Can someone tell me how in the hell is Buffell not worth a penny?

Can someone explain why our best attacking midfielder has gone and McCulloch is being kept.....flabergasted!!!!!!!!

...because Walter knows much better than you or I.

In your opinion.