Cardiff City and Blackpool have upped the ante in their respective attempts to sign Dundee United striker David Goodwillie.
The Welsh club are leading the race and have proposed a package for the player worth well in excess of £2 million, thus meeting theTangerines’ asking price.
That does not mean he is guaranteed to go to the Bluebirds as the option remains open to Blackpool, Rangers or a fresh bidder to pip them.
The Seasiders are moving in the right direction, with chairman Karl Oyston holding more talks with United and believed to be edging closer to matching the valuation.
Rangers also can’t be written off at this stage, although they would need to double the £1 million-plus figure that was rejected by United in midweek.
It is clear the path his manager and trusted advisor Peter Houston wants Goodwillie to follow, and it is not the road to Ibrox.
Houston has grown increasingly frustrated at people most recently media pundits Alan McInally and Mark Hateley telling his player to put potential success on the park ahead of the wages on offer in the English Championship.
The United boss, who has worked with Goodwillie for five years, reckons he will be much better served by avoiding the off-field intensity of playing for one of the Old Firm.
“If Rangers match any bids from someone else then it will be up to David where he goes and that will be fine by me because, ultimately, it will be his decision,” said Houston.
“But, in my opinion, he should get out of the limelight and start afresh elsewhere. We keep reading all these people advising David that he has to go to Rangers for medals and all this stuff.
“There is no doubt that of all the clubs mentioned so far (in relation to signing Goodwillie) Rangers are by far the biggest.
“However, as someone who knows David well, and has worked with him for five years, with all the troubles he has had off the field he would be better going elsewhere.Goldfish bowl”I don’t think they (the pundits) are thinking about what is in his best interests. Is it in David’s interests to go into the goldfish bowl in Glasgow? I don’t think so.
“I am from Glasgow I grew up in the city so I know about all the things that come with playing for Rangers or Celtic.
“What I am saying is not a criticism of Rangers, far from it, and it is also not because I don’t want him coming back to play against us. I want to be clear on this.
“In normal circumstances going to Rangers would be a great move because they are a great club. But for David… I just don’t think it is the best thing for him to do.
“David is that good that he could go down south just now and still play for Rangers later in his life. People should think about what they are saying before they start giving him advice.”
Houston dismissed any suggestion that Goodwillie is motivated by what he can earn in England.
“I don’t think it will come down to money, to be honest,” added Houston. “Money is not the most important thing in the world to him what is important is getting things right on the park and getting an opportunity to get on with his life.
“I am thinking about David as a person and as a football player. So all I am interested in is him is being able to concentrate on his football.”
United boss Houston also rejected the notion that heading south could cost Goodwillie international recognition.
The Scotland assistant boss highlighted Robert Snodgrass and Charlie Adam as two examples of players who have flourished while at Championship sides.
“I work with the Scotland squad and how many players from the Championship do we have in our squad? There are a few and Robert Snodgrass is a great example. He went down from Scotland to England and has really flourished at Leeds. He is now an international and a top player.
“The same goes for Charlie Adam, who left Rangers for Blackpool.”
He continued, “There are several others who have gone down in the last few years and have really kicked on. Just because you are in the Championship doesn’t mean you can’t play for Scotland.”