Everton on alert as West Ham drop out of running for Rangers’ Jelavic

Jelavic had the SPL’s best goals-to-game ratio last season with 19 in 27 starts

West Ham have dropped their interest in Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, but Everton boss David Moyes is refusing to comment about his own transfer plans.

Everton are reported to have made a move after Rangers rejected a £7m offer from the Hammers for the 26-year-old.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce confirmed: “If I’m led to believe where it is at the moment, for us it was too expensive. – full stop.”

Rangers are understood to want £8m for Croatia international Jelavic.

Everton have a limited transfer budget but have this week sold Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Spartak Moscow for £5m.

However, the Toffees are unlikely to meet Rangers’ full asking price for Jelavic, who missed Saturday’s 4-0 win over Hibernian because of illness..

Talks are ongoing in an attempt to agree a deal as Everton hope Rangers may drop the price to what the Goodison Park club will regard as a more realistic valuation.

However, speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting with Manchester City, Moyes said: “I never talk about players at other clubs, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t like it.

“I didn’t like it when I was a player and I kept hearing there were other centre-halves coming in to take my position. I wouldn’t talk about players at other clubs.

“If there was any news, I would give it to you. You will need to wait until midnight tomorrow night and then we will let you know what is happening.”

The Scottish champions are currently struggling with financial problems, Rangers manager Ally McCoist admitting on Saturday: “Nikica, if he went, would be a big loss.

“He’s a fantastic player and he has been a great talent here. But, as you saw, we scored some really good goals. Nikica also didn’t play against Motherwell and equally we did very well. That’s just two examples.

“I’d also like to tell you I wouldn’t like to lose him. Of course I wouldn’t, because he’s a good player. But I understand the economics of our club and I understand the economics of football. Sometimes they dictate and determine what happens.”

Moyes was initially interested in Jelavic when the Croatia international left Rapid Vienna in August 2010, but he moved to Rangers in a £4m move and was instrumental in bringing the title to Ibrox under Walter Smith last season.

Everton are desperate to boost their attacking options after struggling for goals this season and have targeted Jelavic as the man to solve their problems.

If Moyes fails to land Jelavic, he is reported to have turned his attentions to Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, although that has been flatly denied by Molineux boss Mick McCarthy.

McCoist’s hopes of strengthening his own squad appear to hinge of the sale of Jelavic, who has also been linked with Liverpool and QPR, for a price the club would be prepared to accept.

Hearts winger David Templeton could become a target should Jelavic be sold, although English clubs are also interested, while McCoist might renew his interest in trialist midfielder Jorge Claros and St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza.