Failure to secure Davis deal frustrates Rangers boss Smith

RANGERS manager Walter Smith will step up his search for a midfielder after failing with a last-gasp bid to secure Steven Davis on a permanent contract before last night's Champions League signing deadline.

Rangers were keen to push through a deal in time for the Northern Ireland international to feature in next week's crucial qualifier against FBK Kaunas but negotiations with Fulham ended in stalemate.

With five weeks remaining of the transfer window, Smith may yet resurrect his interest in a player who impressed while on loan last season but admitted his frustration at missing out before the visit of the Lithuanians.

"We haven't been able to reach agreement with the club so it would look as though that is now finished with," he said.

"I think the lad would like to come here and play and there will be a bit of frustration from both parties that it hasn't happened.

"But there are still five weeks of the transfer window so we will just have to wait and see."

Skipper Barry Ferguson's absence for up to four months after an ankle operation means Rangers' midfield options are limited to say the least but Smith insists he will not be tempted to make any panic buys.

"We've been looking since the end of the season for a player who we can add to our midfield," he said.

"We lost Steven Davis going back to Fulham and Amdy Faye going back to Charlton so we were always a little bit light in the midfield area.

"We will continue to have a look and see if we can add to that but we have got a fair number of players in our squad and we feel that we can cover at the moment.

"It's so early in the transfer window, we still have five weeks to go before the window closes. But the deadline for the Champions League qualifiers makes it a little bit awkward.

"It's not an easy situation to be in, it's not easy to go out and sign players at the level we want.

"So we will take our time and hope that we can find someone who is of the standard that we want.

"I don't think there is any point in taking a player that we don't want to take so we will take our time and, if we do add someone to that area, hopefully it will be the right one."

Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, Sunderland midfielder Dickson Etuhu and Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes are all reported to be on Smith's wanted list.