Dundee United rejected a bid of just over £500,000 from Rangers for striker David Goodwillie.
The Scottish champions have identified the Scotland internationalist as a replacement for Kenny Miller, who looks set to join Birmingham City after the Ibrox club accepted a bid believed to be in the region of £600,000.
Earlier this week Walter Smith suggested he would only be able to make a new signing if a player left and that moved closer yesterday as Miller mulled over the personal terms offered before deciding whether to be reunited with Alex McLeish at St Andrew’s.
If the Gers hope to capture Goodwillie, though, they will have to double possibly treble their initial offer.
Manager Peter Houston said on Thursday, “I have spoken to the chairman and there is no way David will be leaving for £500,000. If someone starts talking about £1 million plus add-ons then I think we would probably start talking.”
As well as Rangers, a host of clubs in England and abroad have been tracking the 21-year-old, who has 18 months left on his current deal with United.
A verbal offer was made yesterday lunchtime, which also included several performance-related add-ons, but it is understood they were told by United that they are looking for around £1.5 million for their top scorer, £1 million of which would have to be paid straight away.
With more than three weeks to go before the transfer window closes, it is unlikely that the bidding for Goodwillie, who is suspended for this afternoon’s Scottish Cup tie against Ross County, will stop there now that the starting gun has been fired.
If the Miller deal goes through, the striker will be reunited with McLeish, who he played under when the former Aberdeen defender was Scotland boss.
McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bring in a proven goalscorer during the January transfer window, with the Blues struggling near the foot of the Barclays Premier League.