Rangers will be attached to the signing of Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty today - and Alan Gow holds the key to the agreement nearing completion.

A fee of £ 3.25million has been concluded, which includes £ 250000 to pay once Lafferty has established itself at Ibrox.

Burnley also collect 10% of profits if Rangers sell Lafferty.

B Scotland before Gow is expected to continue talks with Burnley a move to Turf Moor, after being offered the clarets as an additional part of the transaction.

The former Falkirk player made two appearances for Rangers last season in cup games against East Fife and East Stirling.

Gow and Burnley were unable to reach agreement so far, and the Coca-Cola Championship club are known to be keen to reduce their payroll, which exceeds the turnover.

Gow, 25, said: "I'm always thinking about things."

Lafferty is hoping that the movement can be pushed through, and told the Daily Record: "The operation is not completely finished, but I hope that this is a matter of time before the situation is sorted Alan. "

The 20-year Northern Ireland international has already passed a medical and has agreed a contract with the Rangers.

Lafferty become the third Rangers striker signing of the summer, after Kenny Miller joined from Derby and Andrius Velicka agreed to move a Norwegian club Viking.

Former head of Northern Ireland Lawrie Sanchez is the filing Lafferty to be a success in Scotland.

"It will be a good sign for Rangers," Sanchez told The Sun.

"Gers are not obtain the finished product yet, but it is one for the future and it is good it will be led by Ally McCoist."

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Celtic striker Scott McDonald is considering cutting short his summer vacation to ensure it hits the ground running next season.

Australia has signed a new five-year contract with the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions back yesterday after a three-week spell on the other side of the globe to play in his country's World Cup.

And it May demonstrate its commitment to the Parkhead club by foregoing an additional break given to players involved in international duty.

McDonald, who has scored 31 goals for Celtic following his £ 700000 move from Motherwell last summer, said: "To return to the field after three weeks, I am chewing a new piece, but I need a little rest.

"I've just finished with international obligation, so I'll get a couple of weeks and refresh the mind and body and return as hungry as ever.

"I think everyone is back on July 4, but everyone who has been international law is authorized a further pause.

"I'm weighing it at the moment and see what I feel after the next two weeks and see how I feel refreshed.

"If I feel good enough, I'll be back the same time as everyone, because I do not really miss anything.

"I know I've done the same thing everyone. That is what is best for me and best for me is to return in early pre-season.

"I think if you have a very good pre-season, it could make the difference for the rest of the season."

McDonald presented in two World Cup against Iraq after helping his club Rangers pip the SPL title.

"It was a hell of a busy schedule, but it is finished now," about 24 years.

"I like to play for my country, but it was the longest season of my career.

"I played 50-odd games and it was a very large number on the body. It's just right now for a couple of weeks off.

"You can no longer strong week, week by reading. I learned a lot during the season.

"There have been times when I felt tired in training, but there are ways to ensure that never happens again."

McDonald is the only man to sign on Celtic so far this summer, while the Rangers are expected to complete the purchase of their third attacker in a week with Kyle Lafferty following Kenny Miller and Andrius Velicka.

Celtic had made an offer for Lafferty, but McDonald is unfazed by the reinforcements coming to Ibrox.

"I'm not really concerned with what happens on the other side of the road," he said.

"They are all very good players, two of them are proven in the SPL, Kenny and Velicka, so they are underway to improve Rangers team.

"But we are quite convinced the team that we have here at the moment is quite good and we hope to do if four (titles) in a row."

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The Rangers are on the verge of signing Kyle Lafferty from Burnley in a deal worth more than £ 3million after agreeing with the Championship club.

The 20-year attacker Northern Ireland has also been interesting Celtic, Rangers, however, are on the verge of making their third attacker Lafferty signing of the summer, after bids by Kenny Miller and Andrius Velicka.

Whether they are willing to pay an initial £ 3million, then a further £ 250000 based on appearances.

Alan Gow, 25, will also travel to Burnley in connection with the operation.

The former Falkirk not before having an impact at Rangers after joining last summer, and discuss personal terms with Burnley.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle told the club's official website: "We received a very good offer Rangers - a deal worth nearly £ 4million if we include Alan (Gow), which was offered to us in exchange within the framework package.

"Ultimately, the fans point of view, Kyle wanted to leave the club after saying he felt it was time to move forward."

The signing of Lafferty, who should have a doctor today, will take Rangers been above expenditure of £ 6million mark.

The youngest is 6ft 4in tall and has scored five goals in 40 matches last season Burnley.

His imminent arrival inevitably casts doubt on the future of strikers who helped the Rangers clinch a cup double procedure.

Kris Boyd, Daniel Cousin, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo were alternately in manager Walter Smith, the team last season.

They all reached double figures in the goalscoring table, but the Rangers do not want to have a team overloaded with strikers for the new season.

Miller joined from Derby for a £ 2million fee, while Velicka, formerly of Hearts, has agreed to move from Norwegian club Viking next month.

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Celtic striker Scott McDonald has signed a new five-year contract with the Scottish champions.

Australia has finished the Premier League top scorer during his first season with Celtic, who joined from Motherwell in a £ 700000 deal last summer.

His 25 league goals helped Gordon Strachan's side clinch the SPL title and reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Celtic were keen to reward McDonald for his contribution and 24 years, wanted to stay with the club.

Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "This is great news for Celtic. It is well known that Scott likes to play for Celtic and it has a great affection for the club. He is also someone who has performed brilliantly for Celtic last season.

"Our priority is to keep our best and most committed players and the board is pleased to support Gordon in his plans for the future by providing Scott on this long-term agreement.

"We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that Celtic remains on top of Scottish football."

McDonald's goals in its first campaign at Parkhead is vitally important that Celtic past Rangers surged in the last quarter of the season to complete a hat-trick of league title triumphs.

It has exceeded most expectations of its objectives of return, and the new contract will reflect its status as a key man in Strachan.

The Australian admitted last week its second year as a Celtic player will present another type of challenge.

McDonald said: "Probably coming early in the second season, I'll have even more of a point to prove that this was not just a one-off season I had.

"We must go there and do it again and if I can do it, it might make me. Hopefully, this is the case and there are many more good times ahead. "

McDonald has admirers in England, despite not making the grade in Southampton, but his long-term future is at Celtic.

He totaled 31 goals in all competitions last season and hopes to make a similar contribution to the next campaign.

"This is probably be doubly difficult," he said last week, but it's something I'll look to the future and we hope we can go there and win another championship and a little more trophies next season. "

The announcement of McDonald's deal at a time when Celtic are set to lose to the Rangers in the race to sign Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty.

Both Old Firm clubs have been keen on the 20-year Northern Ireland striker who should clinch a move to Ibrox.

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Scotland clubs will receive an additional place in the UEFA Cup in 2009/10, the Scottish Premier League revealed.

Scotland will have at least four teams in European competition next season, will join Hibernian and Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Queen of the South if they qualify through the Intertoto Cup.

It will be guaranteed a five the next season that the Intertoto Cup will be replaced by another qualifying round in the UEFA Cup.

The team that finishes fourth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League are likely to take this additional space, but their participation could be at the expense of some of their summer holidays.

SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "The UEFA Cup begins in June and participation is mandatory, while the Intertoto had been voluntary.

"If a team does not want to start their season in June or early July, they have more options."

Scotland will retain its two slots Champions League and Blair revealed that the Scottish Cup winners continue to enter the UEFA Cup in the round before the stadium.

The SPL of the third placed team will begin their campaign a higher level in the third qualifying round, while the fourth placed team will begin in early July in the second round of qualification.

The Intertoto Cup has not proved popular in Scotland with only Partick Thistle and Hibs on two occasions, entering since its inception in 1995.

Hibs would be the first Scottish team to succeed in the tournament if they are victorious in two rounds of the summer, the first against Swedish side Elfsborg or HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands.

Meanwhile, the SPL are not yet hear from UEFA on their demand that the Scottish Cup-runners are not eligible in the future.

Queen of the South are the third First Division side in three years to account for Scotland in the UEFA Cup after Dunfermline and Gretna cup final losers.

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