Weir set to clinch Rangers move

Scotland defender David Weir is poised to complete his transfer from Everton to Rangers.

The 36-year-old has fallen out of favour at Goodison Park and is keen on a switch to Ibrox which would reunite him with manager Walter Smith.

Everton manager David Moyes confirmed on his club's website, www.evertonfc.com: "I expect David Weir to sign for Rangers."

Smith signed Weir for the Toffees in 1999 and later resurrected the centre-back's Scotland career.

Weir, capped 52 times by Scotland, is considered capable of bolstering a defence which has been heavily criticised this season.

There is the prospect of him teaming up at the heart of the Rangers defence with fellow new recruit Andy Webster, a Scotland colleague, who was on Monday given the green light by FIFA and the Scottish Football Association to complete his loan move from Wigan.

Webster's move had been blocked by his former club Hearts, who still held the player's registration with the SFA.

There will be no such complications in Weir's transfer, with Everton accepting his request to move to Rangers.

Moyes said: "David had expressed an interest in going out on loan. We knew there were clubs in England interested as well as Rangers. But when David made it clear he wanted to join Rangers we did not want to stand in his way. We are sad to see him leave Everton.

"David has been a great servant to Everton and a model professional and everybody at the club wishes him all the best for the future."