HAVING added to their already abundant attacking options with the capture of Claudio Caniggia, Rangers have now turned their attentions to defensive matters.
After his trials and tribulations last season, Lorenzo Amoruso appears likely to consolidate his surprise return to favour with Dick Advocaat by agreeing to extend his stay at Ibrox beyond his present contract.
Added to that, Craig Moore has been in negotiations to confirm his long-term future at the club with David Murray offering the Australian internationalist a two-year contract.
Amoruso's reversal of fortunes, though, is the biggest surprise after being stripped of the club captaincy and receiving a public dressing-down from his manager for a series of costly mistakes during the last campaign.
Talks are under way to extend the 30-year-old's contract, which expires next summer, and while Advocaat stated last week that Amoruso would be a regular starter if he can curb his excesses, the deal will also be made to ensure that Rangers do not run the risk of losing the Italian for nothing under the Bosman ruling. ''It may well take up to a month to finalise,'' said his agent, Andrea D'Amico. ''There is no doubt Lorenzo would like to extend his stay if we can find a solution to the situation.''
Reports at the weekend suggest Amoruso has been offered an extra year on his contract but Moore, having proved his fitness after long-term injury, has been offered greater security.
He still has two years remaining on his contract but Advocaat regards the 25-year-old as the linchpin of his defence and after Bert Konterman's ignominious start to his Ibrox career, it would appear Amoruso and Moore will be the first-choice central pairing for the start of the new campaign.
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