Miller set for Bursaspor move

(GETTY IMAGES)

Rangers have agreed a deal in principle with Bursaspor for Kenny Miller to join the Turkish champions.

Miller trained with Bursaspor today after agreeing terms with the team Rangers knocked out of Europe earlier this season.

Ranger later revealed they were "awaiting paperwork" before the transfer is completed.

Miller, who scored in a 1-1 Champions League draw against Bursaspor in December, was earlier met by a media scrum and fans chanting his name at Istanbul airport, with green-and-white scarves placed over his shoulders by the Bursaspor supporters as he walked through the airport.

He then travelled to Bursa by helicopter before the club announced that Miller had reached an agreement with them and promptly began selling his new number 18 shirt with his name on the back.

The Scotland striker was then introduced to the Bursaspor players before taking part in a 90-minute training session before being quoted on the Bursaspor official website as saying he looked forward to pushing for the title with his new club and playing for them in Europe.

The 31-year-old's Ibrox contract was due to expire this summer, leaving him free to talk to other clubs this month.

Rangers accepted an offer worth a potential £1.1million from Birmingham but the striker stalled on a move to St Andrews amid initial interest from Fiorentina and then rejected the offer from Blues boss Alex McLeish following the approach from Bursaspor.

Miller has reportedly been offered a tax-free weekly wage of £50,000 and Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist can understand his move after his 22 goals for the club this season attracted interest from around Europe.

"He made a wonderful contribution for the period that he was here," McCoist told Blues News.

"Kenny has been great for the club and equally the club has been great for Kenny. It's been a good partnership.

"If the deal does go through then he will go with our blessing and our thanks.

"Having said that, we are disappointed to see him go because he has been an integral part of the team over the past two-and-a-half seasons.

"You can understand why he has made the decision he has. All he was doing was exercising his right to look around, like any other player who is coming to the end of his contract."

Rangers beat Bursaspor at Ibrox on their way to a third-placed finish ahead of the Turks in their Champions League group campaign this season, thus securing a spot in the last 32 of the Europa League.

But their debt problems and the continuing influence of Lloyds TSB in their financial affairs meant they were unable to offer Miller a suitable deal to extend his contract.