Rangers have positioned themselves at the head of a queue of clubs hoping to sign Robbie Fowler since it was confirmed last week that the striker would be leaving Liverpool.

Fowler, who has just turned 32, is expected to have a number of suitors chasing him over the summer, with Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland among those hoping to tempt him to remain in the Barclays Premiership. But sources inside Ibrox confirmed yesterday that Walter Smith would like to add Fowler to his squad for next season.

Smith is renowned for going about his transfer business discreetly, though it was believed last night that Rangers had already opened negotiations with Fowler’s representatives.

With Dado Prso and Stefan Klos, two highly-paid players, both leaving Rangers, the Ibrox club, though not as cash-rich as those in England, could still offer Fowler a lucrative salary to come to Glasgow. If Rangers can also successfully negotiate a prequalifying tie in August, there would be the added incentive of Fowler having the opportunity to play in next season’s Champions League.

Fowler, whose prolific first spell at Liverpool between 1993 and 2001 resulted in Liverpool fans referring to him as “God”, has not figured prominently this season, though he has still managed seven goals in 16 outings. Injury problems have dogged the striker, prompting Rafael Benítez to ponder recently what “a fit and scoring Robbie Fowler” would be worth in the transfer market.

It is believed Rangers are ready to offer the player a two-year deal. Fowler has insisted that, as yet, no concrete offers have been put to him. The striker hopes to make one more Liverpool appearance in next week’s Champions League final in Athens.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have denied that they have made any bid for Scott Brown of Hibernian, though Keith Lamb, the Teesside club’s chief executive, has admitted that talks between the clubs have opened over the player.

Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, has had a long-standing interest in the midfield player, who has been linked with several clubs, including Celtic and Rangers.

Middlesbrough have had the player watched on a number of occasions since Brown handed in a transfer request at Easter Road in December. It is believed that Southgate and Lamb are willing to offer £4 million for the player.

Lamb said yesterday: “Despite suggestions to the contrary, we have not made a bid for Scott Brown. We have had discussions with Hibernian about the player, who is one of many on Gareth Southgate’s list of potential targets.”

Southgate has spent the last week freeing up space within his squad to accommodate newcomers, with Abel Xavier, Malcolm Christie, Stuart Parnaby and Danny Graham all set to leave the club.

Hibernian have confirmed that Brown is certain to leave in the summer, though John Collins has said that he “won’t see a penny” of any money through the sale of players.