BLACKBURN transfer target Lorenzo Amoruso today moved a step closer to joining Rovers after conceding his days at Rangers are numbered.
The 32-year-old defender is the subject of a £1.4m bid from Ewood chief Graeme Souness.
And the Italian, who scored the winning goal as Rangers clinched the domestic treble courtesy of a 1-0 Scottish Cup victory over Dundee at the weekend, has admitted the Gers' cash problems could ultimately spell the end of his career in Scotland.
"There have been times when it has looked as if I would be leaving but in my heart of hearts I did not believe I would go. This time it's different," said Amoruso.
"The club have accepted an offer from Blackburn and other clubs are interested. This time I think I will have to leave.
"The club's financial position means they want to take the money for me and I think it will happen.
"I have not signed anything yet but I think I've played my last game for Rangers.
"I am going home on Wednesday and will spend 10 days with friends and family thinking over everything but I think it is over and if it is, my last day could not have gone any better."
Amoruso will return to Florence to think over his future but he has hinted he would relish the chance of working under Souness at Ewood.
"He's a personality and he knows what is the best for him and his club and he's quite straight, which is what I like," said the Italian.
"I like people like me who like to talk face to face without any problems. That's the way I act in my life as well.
"Right now, though, I am just so tired because it has been a crazy end to the season.
"I don't want to do something on the spur of the moment that I will regret.
"Whatever I do now, whoever I sign for, it's going to be a big move.
"If I am going to leave Rangers it will be the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my career."
Rovers have had an offer in the region of £1.4m accepted by the Scottish champions and they are happy to give the player all the time he needs to make a decision about his future.
"I think it's an emotional time for Amoruso at the moment," said chief executive John Williams.
"He needs a bit of time and space to come to a decision which is totally understandable in the circumstances and we are happy to wait.
"He's been at the club five years, they've just won the treble, and he's scored the winning goal in the Cup final.
"But we've tabled our bid so he knows our position and he's gone away to think about it."
Gers boss Alex McLeish has admitted losing a player of Amoruso's quality would be a major blow to the club.
"There is nothing I can say until I discuss things with the chairman John McClelland and Martin Bain to see where we are going from here," said McLeish.
"There is speculation about Lorenzo and if he does go then he has signed off in great style.
"He has been a great player and of course he would be a great loss but we would have to strive to replace him."
Amoruso has one year left to run on his current contract but he would have to take a substantial pay cut in order to extend his stay at Ibrox because McLeish is under pressure to reduce the wage bill.
Meanwhile, Rovers have hit back at allegations suggesting they are holding Birmingham City to 'ransom' over the Blues' failed bid for David Dunn.
Blues officials felt Rovers' response in knocking back what would have been a club record £5.5m deal for the England midfielder was tantamount to 'ransom.'
However, angry Blackburn chief executive John Williams has slammed the accusations, saying: "We are certainly not holding Birmingham City to ransom. It is a very simple situation - they made an offer, we turned it down.
"I am not against performance-related deals, football will always be about that, but we don't think the structure of this proposal is right.
"The offer is £3m plus a further £1.25m if Birmingham stay in the Premier League next season, followed by another £1.25m if they stay up the following year.
"But if Birmingham aren't prepared to gamble on their own Premiership survival then why should we?"
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