Rangers v Auxerre: Success, coupled with news that a new rights issue has drastically reduced the club's debt, could allow the manager Alex McLeish not only to keep the players he wants - including the Frenchman - but also make a couple of significant signings next month.
Rangers' chairman David Murray has already revealed his manager will not have to sell when the transfer window reopens because the debt is at a more manageable level, believed to be just over £20 million. That will hearten McLeish since Boumsong is in demand after an influential half-season. Newcastle United's Graeme Souness has stated an interest and has not been the only Premiership manager tracking the player.
McLeish signed Boumsong, 25 yesterday, on a Bosman free when Liverpool, then under Gerard Houllier, were dithering. It now appears the most astute bit of business since Rangers captured the likes of Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne.
Rangers need one point to take one of the three qualifying places from Group F and should Grazer AK fail to beat the group leaders AZ Alkmaar in Austria then Rangers would go through even if they lost. Rangers will rely on the in-form strike force of Dado Prso and Nacho Novo who scored in the weekend win over Dundee.
The main selection decision for McLeish concerns midfield where Bob Malcolm has played exceptionally well. The youngster also took over at the back in the absence of Boumsong on Saturday and was named man of the match. However, he may be dropped in favour of the experienced Alex Rae.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
RANGERS (4-4-2): Klos; Khizanishvili, Andrews, Boumsong, Vignal; Namouchi, Ricksen, Rae, Mladenovic; Novo, Prso.
AUXERRE (4-3-3): Cool; Sagna, Bolf, Mignot, Grichting; Violeau, Cheyrou, Tainio; Kalou, Akale, Mwaruwari.
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