Former Rangers winger Peter Lovenkrands has been released from his contract at Schalke, whom he joined in the summer of 2006 after six years at Ibrox. The 28-year-old winger is now being touted as a target for Gers boss Walter Smith.

The Dane told the Evening Times: "I just needed to get away from Schalke. That is the bottom line. I know there has been speculation during last summer linking me with a move back to Rangers and that is flattering.

"It was a big decision for me to leave Rangers in the first place and looking back on it with hindsight, it maybe was not the correct one, but at the time I did not feel wanted.

"A new coach, Paul Le Guen, had come in, and I asked him if he wanted me and he said he was not bothered, that it was up to me whether I stayed on or went.

"As a player, it is important to feel valued and it was clear that was not the case with him. So I went."