West Brom plotting raid on Rangers

Albion have stepped up their summer recruitment plans by making a reported bid for Rangers forward Steven Naismith.

Stories from Scotland claim the troubled Old Firm club's administrators have rejected an opening offer from the Baggies for the 25-year-old.

Hawthorns chiefs have been alerted to Naismith's potential availability on a cut-price deal because of the financial chaos engulfing Ibrox.

And sources north of the border suggest they have attempted to steal a march on potential transfer rivals by moving early for the former Kilmarnock man.

Naismith, who is currently sidelined by a ruptured cruciate knee ligament but expects to be fit for the start of pre-season training, can play as a central striker or as a wide midfielder.

He is among a group of Rangers players who negotiated cut-price summer release clauses in exchange for huge pay-cuts when the Glasgow club went into administration last month.

Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who is also in the group of players potential available at bargain prices, has also been watched by the Baggies as an alternative to No.1 target Ben Foster.

The 30-year-old was among a host of keepers Albion enquired about last summer before eventually striking a deal to sign Foster from Birmingham on a season-long loan. He opted for a new contract at Rangers but now looks certain to leave in the summer following a season of off-the-field turmoil.

And the Premier League is the most likely destination for McGregor, who is now back in the international fold after being frozen out in 2009 along with former captain Barry Ferguson over discipline issues.

Baggies boss Roy Hodgson is keen to strengthen his side if he stays at The Hawthorns and believes he will be backed by the club.

He said: "The one thing is that everyone here sings from the same hymnsheet. There's no 'I want this, they want that'. But the fact is we have to be constantly looking to improve in every area."