Liverpool FC News:Rangers defender Danny Wilson on brink of move to Liverpool

Jul 21 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RANGERS centre-back Danny Wilson is on the brink of finally completing his long-awaited move to Liverpool.

Representatives from both clubs were in discussion last night and have agreed a deal in principle worth a flat fee of £2million that could ultimately rise to £5m, depending on certain criteria being met.

The 18-year-old Wilson has been a long-term target of Liverpool having impressed last season after breaking into the first team of the Scottish champions.

Wilson withdrew from the Rangers squad that flew to Australia for their pre-season tour on Tuesday evening, leaving him available to link up with Roy Hodgson’s squad at their Switzerland training camp.

It is understood Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool legend currently employed in an ambassadorial role at the club, proved instrumental in persuading Wilson to move to Merseyside.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: “We have agreed a deal in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of Danny Wilson.

“Liverpool’s offer will see the club receive £2million up front with add-ons linked to games played, taking the total value of the deal to £5million.”

Rangers had anticipated Wilson’s departure towards the end of last season after the centre-back refused a new contract offer.

Bain added: “Danny was entering the final year of his contract with the club and had indicated that he felt it was in his interests to move on.

“Given that and the value of the offer from Liverpool, it was deemed appropriate to accept that offer given the player wanted to go.”

While Wilson is poised to arrive, Philipp Degen has been told he can leave.

The 28-year-old is surplus to requirements after failing to make an impact at Anfield following his free transfer arrival from Borussia Dortmund two years ago.

Degen is part of the pre-season training camp at Bad Ragaz in his home country of Switzerland, and is expected to play in tonight’s friendly against Grasshoppers in Zug.

But the right-back has no future under Hodgson, with a number of clubs having already inquired about Degen’s services.

Stoke City are known admirers for the defender – whose persistent injury problems have restricted him to just 13 appearances while at Anfield – with Liverpool willing to accept a fee of around £1.5million.

“He didn’t get a look in last year and he will find it hard to get a look in this year,” said Hodgson. “If he wants to play regular football then he needs to find a club that will say you are our number one man.

“He’s not going to be the number one man here with us, so does he want another long season playing on the bench not getting any games?

“He’s too old to play for the reserves, he’s an ex-Swiss international and if he wants his international place back, then he is going to have to look elsewhere.

“Degen has been involved here because he is one of the few senior players over here, but he won’t be as involved when the others players return. We have one or two clubs having expressed an interest and it would be better for him to move on.”

Yossi Benayoun and Emiliano Insua have both already departed this summer while Albert Riera continues to attract interest from Olympiakos.

Sources in Greece claim the Spaniard’s agent travelled to Athens for talks over personal terms yesterday, although it is believed the package on offer does not as yet meet the winger’s demands.