Rangers line up another Dane as Laudrup signs on

perfect send-off as he heads for the USA and a five-game watching brief

in the World Cup. Brian Laudrup, a highly talented internationalist,

finally sorted out his financial hiccup with Italian side AC Milan, with

whom he had been on loan from Fiorentina, and completed the deal already

agreed 12 days ago.

For Walter Smith it is the first of what he expects will be a double

scoop, which will be concluded by the capture of #2.5m Marseille

defender Basile Boli on Tuesday, and he and chairman David Murray expect

a third foreigner to join the gang in the next few weeks. There will be

more transfer action to follow, this time involving players going out of

the Ibrox front door.

Murray described the third deal as ''done and dusted'' but the man

concerned -- probably another Dane, Brondby defender Mark Reiper -- has

not yet made his decision to come to Scotland. If he finds the Ibrox

welcome as overwhelming as compatriot Laudrup did, there should be no

problems.

''I had no doubts about where I would be going after my visit here

last week,'' said Laudrup in impressive English, ''and there was no

choice other than to stay with Fiorentina or go to Rangers.''

Considering that he found life as a footballer in Italy

''frightening'', then Rangers were always on a winner. ''The Italian

fans take football so seriously,'' he said. ''When you play well you are

the best in the world but when you don't, you are the worst. They used

to wait for the players as if they wanted to 'kill' us. They would stand

outside my house. It was frightening for my wife and children. We have a

different attitude in Denmark. We think football is important, but not

that important.

''At Fiorentina we were relegated in my first season and when I went

to Milan it was difficult to fit in, with eight or nine foreigners

trying to get in the team. I knew after my two years there that I would

not win trophies or achieve my ambitions and I had to move.

''I think Rangers are trying to make the next step into European

success but it will be difficult. Maybe in two years' time we will be

ready. People say a technical player like myself should not come to

Scotland but if Rangers are willing to pay money for me, they must think

I can give the team something.

''I know of some of the players here, of course. I spoke to Mark

Hateley and he seemed a very nice guy. Duncan Ferguson is an aggressive

player I believe but also talented, while Ally McCoist is famous.''

He also knows a lot about Scottish football, having seen it regularly

via Italian TV, and has no worries about fitting in.

Laudrup has played for Denmark against Basile Boli and would be happy

to see him in a Rangers shirt. ''I played against him once and that was

enough.''

He also has a high opinion of Reiper, whom he describes as a

British-type player but would not be drawn on his desire to join him at

Ibrox. His own ambitions are simple .

.

. to win prizes and show his skills at the highest level. ''Winning

the European Cup is the one I want to win most, although I did play in

the Champions' League for Milan, and I think I can count myself as part

of the winning Milan team.''

Murray described the negotiations with the Dane as ''tough'' but the

impression is hard to avoid that the chairman revels in such cut and

thrust. He took the opportunity to introduce a newly acquired three-year

sponsorship worth #3m with Honda, which will mean the club being

supplied with 40 British-built Accords, renewed every six months.

He also dismissed reports of Laudrup's Ibrox wages, which had been

recorded as around #14,000 a week. ''It is not half of that,'' he

snapped, ''and it is that kind of thing that upsets others at Ibrox.''

The chairman said that he felt the club was better prepared than ever

before for the attempt on Europe. ''It is important for Scotland as well

as Rangers that we do well. I don't think I can do any more on my part

and I hope we can do a job for Scotland. We have to make our mark. It is

a great day for Rangers and Scottish football, and I hope it means

entertainment for lots of people.''

Murray added that Rangers were about #1m better off than last year as

they approach the new season -- ''if we fail at the first round of

Europe we would still make a million'' -- but that comes largely from

the #9m income from extraneous commercial activities, rather than

through the gate.

The news from Europe yesterday confirmed that Rangers will be involved

in a preliminary Champions' Cup round. They are No.10 seeds, two outside

the elite, and thus must get through the first tie to get among the

multi-million pounds of the Champions' League. Manchester United are

more fortunate. As third seeds they are in the money immediately.

MORTON are to give 200 free season tickets to a number of local senior

citizens. Chairman John Wilson said yesterday that free tickets for both

the stand and the ground would be available to those over 75.

JOHN McDonald, the former Rangers striker, is on the hunt for a new

club.