RangersMedia

Bougherra linked to Stuttgart and Hamburg for £5.1million Friday, 23 July 2010 14:56 Written by therabbitt

Several news sources, both local and continental are linking Madjid Bougherra with a move to Germany with Stuttgart or Hamburg for a fee believed to be around the £5.1 million mark.

It may come as no surprise that the Algerian is being linked away from Ibrox after a strong World Cup - with a particularly strong performance against England.

Yahoo News have Bougherra linked to Stuttgart whilst German news site Deustche Welle suggest that Hamburg are looking to Bougherra as a replacement for departing German international Heiko Westermann.

It's rumoured that several clubs in Germany and also in the English Premier League are circling around the robust and talented defender who is currently in Australia with Rangers as they compete in a pre season tournament.

The Algerian travelled with the rest of the squad after some extended leave following his exertions in South Africa with his country.

Bougherra has always played a good game with the media whenever he is asked about his future, being open and honest saying that he would like to end up playing in the Premiership but is happy to stay at Rangers should no bid for him materialise.

Cynics of course read this as a come and get me plea to clubs down south.

If (and maybe when) Bougherra leaves Rangers, we will be left with only two recognised central defenders in 40 year old David Weir and powderpuff Andy Webster (when he is at Rangers) and a few other candidates that can fill in, including Kirk Broadfoot and Sasa Papac.

This might be the first link to Bougherra post South Africa, but you can get the feeling that it certainly won't be the last.

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