Everton are reportedly locked in negotiations with Rangers over the possible purchase of Nikica Jelavic.

The Croatia international has impressed at Ibrox and has been linked with a move to Liverpool and QPR also, but Sky Sports indicate that David Moyes' men are the frontrunners to sign the attacker.

The Goodison Park club are eager to bolster their attacking options before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, and have money to spend after offloading winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Spartak Moscow.

Jelavic missed Rangers' 4-0 win over Hibs on Saturday through illness, and the Scottish club's boss Ally McCoist is starting to think of life without the eastern European marksman.

“There's not just life beyond Nikica, there's life beyond us all,” he stated after the victory.

"There are bigger players who have left this club and the club always goes on. That's the most important thing because the club is the most important thing.

"Nikica, if he went, would be a big loss. He's a fantastic player and he has been a great talent here.

"I'd also like to tell you I wouldn't like to lose him. Of course I wouldn't because he's a good player.

“But I understand the economics of our club and I understand the economics of football.

"Sometimes they dictate and determine what happens rather than other things," he admitted.

By Gareth McKnight

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