EXCLUSIVE

ALTHOUGH he has already said that he did not intend taking any more players from his old club, PSV Eindhoven, after the deal that secured

the #5m transfer of defender Arthur Numan to Ibrox, Dick Advocaat is prepared to make an exception if Belgian internationalist Luc Nilis decides he wants to join him in Scotland.

Advocaat did not want to be seen to be trying to dismantle his old club, but

it

seems to be happening without his help and, as Nilis is leaving Holland anyway, he would be keen to have him as part of his new-look Rangers squad.

The Belgian, who was the hero of the national side in the two World Cup play-off games against the Republic of Ireland, is holding talks with Paris St

Germain, but nothing has been settled yet and he has confessed that, if that move is not agreed, he would like to join his old coach in Scotland.

''I have a number of other offers, but I like the idea of going with Dick Advocaat to Rangers,'' he said.

Nilis scored the equalising goal for Belgium in the 1-1 first leg of their play-off match with the Irish in Dublin and then hit the winning goal in their

2-1 victory in the second leg at home. The 30-year-old, who plays just behind the front line, has been one of the major successes of the return to form of his country's team following the appointment of coach Georges Leeskens.

Like other members of the national side, he was finding life difficult until the new coach revitalised the squad and brought them through to the finals in France, where they share a group with their great rivals, Holland, plus South Korea and Mexico.

The departure of Advocaat, despite his hopes that it would not be the case,

has

ignited a considerable exodus from PSV. Already gone are Numan and Jan Stam, who has been transferred to Manchester United.

Philip Cocu is heading for Barcelona, which also is the likely destination of Bouderwijn Zenden, while Brazilian Claudio is due to move on, but exactly

where

is not yet clear. Nilis will make it six top-team members departing Holland.

The Dutch are becoming very angry at the continuing exodus of their best players, alarmed that, eventually, Holland's leagues will be no more than a nursery for foreign clubs, serious affecting their clubs' ability to keep

their

players, although Ajax are currently managing better than most.

Meanwhile, German goalkeeper Stefan Klos could take a step closer to becoming

a

Rangers player today when he renews his fight to leave Borussia Dortmund. Klos will attend a second German employment tribunal in an

Continued on Page 37

attempt to free himself from his contract with the former European Cup

holders.

However, even if the same judge who declared Klos was free to leave Dortmund without a fee delivers the same verdict, Rangers may still be left waiting.

It is believed Borussia will continue to appeal against the decision in their attempt to stall Klos's departure to Rangers, who want him at Ibrox in time

for

Advocaat's official arrival on July 1.

Having missed out on German World Cup squad goalkeeper Jans Lehmann, who recently joined AC Milan instead, Dortmund are determined to ensure they have an adequate replacement in place before letting Klos go.

Nottingham Forest last night dropped out of contention for the signature of Rangers defender Alex Cleland. Cleland had been watched by Forest scouts and

it

had seemed to be a three-way race between Everton, Aston Villa and the newly-promoted Midlands club.

However, City Ground manager Dave Bassett last night revealed that his club will not be going for the former Dundee United star. He said: ''We watched

Alex

Cleland on a number of occasions, but we have another couple of people who

can

play in his position in mind.

''To be honest, after watching him, we have decided he is not quite what we

are

looking for.'' Cleland is out of contract and will go for nothing under the Bosman ruling.