BBC Sport - Football - Danny Wilson & Madjid Bougherra shrug off exit talk (original) (raw)

Wilson was named PFA Scotland young player of the year

Defenders Danny Wilson and Madjid Bougherra have shrugged off suggestions that they might be leaving Rangers.

Algeria international Bougherra told BBC Scotland: "I still have two years of my contract and we can go to three no problem. If I stay, I am very happy.

"I need to go to the World Cup. I need to concentrate and be ready and we see what the future is."

Wilson said: "I have a year left of my contract and I am not in any hurry to move on or to sign anything just yet."

Cashing in on their prize assets is one option for Rangers during the summer as they look to reduce the debt burden that has been preventing manager Walter Smith signing new players.

Negotiations about a new contract have broken down with Wilson, who picked up the PFA Scotland young player of the year award on Sunday.

	I'm not going to say it is because of things off the field that I am not staying Rangers defender Danny Wilson

And Liverpool have confirmed their interest in the 18-year-old, who is also believed to have impressed Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

"There's always going to be speculation when I have not signed a contract and there's things put in the papers, but I don't try to take much notice of that," he said.

"I just try to play my football. These things will take care of themselves. There's the summer to come and I'll just take things from there."

Wilson hinted that reasons other than uncertainty over Rangers finances would dominate his decision and admitted to being flattered by links to top English clubs.

"It's nice if it's true, but I am not entirely sure about that," he said. "I've got a job to do with Rangers and that's what I'm fully focused on.

"I'm not going to say it is because of things off the field that I am not staying, it is just something that's going to take a little more time."

Rangers, who have retained the Scottish Premier League and won the Co-operative Insurance Cup, dominated the PFA Scotland awards, with Smith being named manager of the year.

Bougherra scored the PFA Scotland goal of the season

Midfielder Steven Davis was voted top player in the SPL, while Wilson's young player award came after a season during which he played a bigger part than expected because of injuries suffered by Bougherra.

"I said when I got the award that this season I would have been happy with my debut," said Wilson.

"But, now that I have won this award, it just shows what a great season I have had and I'm delighted about that.

"To come into the team as a young boy is a great thing, but to come into a winning team is even better."

The roles have been reversed and Bougherra is hoping to be fit in time to replace the injured Wilson in the heart of defence for Tuesday's Old Firm Glasgow derby with Celtic.

Bougherra, who won the goal of the season award for a solo effort during a 7-1 thrashing of Dundee United in December, did not think his injuries made this term any less satisfying than the previous one and was delighted to have won four trophies in two seasons.