Scottish Premier League giants Rangers and Celtic are both reported to be interested in Town striker Pablo Couñago. Manager Joe Royle has confirmed an offer of a trial spell from Rangers but has not yet heard from their Glasgow rivals.

Royle says that the former Celta Vigo man was not keen on a trial and, that contrary to reports in a Scottish newspaper, Rangers have not enquired about a loan deal: "I have spoken to Alex McLeish about Pablo and I believe they have also spoken to his agent.

"They wanted him to go up there on trial for two or three days, but Pablo's not interested in that.
"Rangers asked about him going there on trial, not on loan. A loan was never mentioned."

Town are keen to rid themselves of the Spaniard's near £20,000-a-week wage, making him available on a free transfer last week.

A Bosman transfer in the summer of 2001, Couñago is now by some distance the highest paid player at the club. With finances still tight, Town need to off-load before they can add to their currently very thin squad.

Manager Joe Royle said over the summer that Couñago's wage was worth three players at current Coca-Cola Championship levels of pay.

The 25-year-old frontman's contract is up in the summer and Town are likely to be willing to allow him to leave on a season-long loan ahead of the closure of the transfer window next week if a permanent deal can't be completed.

Rangers' interest in Counago could be dependent on their sucessful progression into the Champions League proper. They face CSKA Moscow in the second leg of their qualifier at Ibrox this evening and are 2-1 behind from the first game.

Couñago is not the first Town striker to interest the Old Firm this summer. Back in May, both Scottish giants were reported to be keen on signing Marcus Bent, the much-travelled frontman eventually moving on to Everton.

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