Leicester City and Liverpool are being linked with a major English bid for Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic.

The Daily Mail says angers were offered £8million for Jelavic just hours before the transfer deadline last week in a deal that could have risen to £10m with add-ons.

Leicester City had tabled a £6.5m bid that was turned down. Foxes boss Sven Goran Eriksson, heavily backed by Thai owner Vichai Raksriaksorn, was later critical of the way the offer became public knowledge - with the finger being pointed at Ibrox.

It is also believed that Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was interested as attacking players like David Ngog, Raul Meireles and Joe Cole left Anfield - before Craig Bellamy returned to Merseyside.

Rangers refused to comment when advised of the information passed to the Daily Mail from a third party.