The 24-year-old, who has signed a four-year deal, subject to a work
permit being issued, has arrived in a £4 million deal from Rapid Vienna
and replaces the SPL’s record scorer Boyd who quit for Middlesbrough
last month.
Jelavic becomes the Ibrox side’s most expensive signing since they
signed Mikel Arteta from Barcelona for £5.7 million back in 2002.
The Croatian said: “I have heard all about Kris Boyd. I just want to go
out and give my best for the club and supporters.
“I don’t think about it as pressure (replacing Boyd). I see it more as a challenge.
“I want to be better (than Boyd). I will play my own game and I have
also scored many goals.” Walter Smith had made Jelavic his top target
and, after a four-week chase, finally got his man.
The Croatian feared his move wasn’t going to happen, after Rapid tried
to move the goalposts, until he demanded the transfer.
Jelavic now has to hope Rapid Vienna lose to Aston Villa in the Europa
League or he could be cup-tied for the Champions League.
He admitted: “It was frustrating a lot of things happened over the last 20 days.
“I was under too much stress thinking about things and now I want to
forget it. I don’t want to continue my fight (with Rapid) through the
media.
“I want to play in the Champions
League and that is why I came here. I see it as a step forward. It is a
difficult situation for me and Rapid but we both have to be
professional.
Hopefully, after next week I will get the chance to play in the Champions League.
The Rangers new boy confirmed that Sasa Papac and Dado Prso had helped
to convince him to swap Rapid for the SPL.
Jelavic, who is expected to make his debut against St Johnstone next
weekend, said: “I spoke to both Dado Prso and Sasa Papac. They said if
I get the opportunity to come to Glasgow then I should take it because
Rangers are a top club.
“They both pushed me towards Rangers.”
Boss Walter Smith admitted he has taken a massive gamble by blowing the
entire Ibrox budget on Jelavic.
Smith used every penny the club had available to net the striker and insists it was a gamble worth taking.
“We lost a lot of goals when Boyd left and we had to find cover for
that,” he said. “I also felt we needed more strength in depth up front,
so I suppose I’ve taken a wee gamble by not bringing in a number of
players.
“But I’ve gone for one, in particular, in Jelavic who I hope will bring us a number of goals.
“Hopefully he can compensate for the loss of Kris.
“I didn’t really have the need to fill a whole load of positions, and
that’s accepting we don’t have a big squad of players.
“But rather than bringing in four players for that kind of money, I
felt I was better bringing in one who I believe can do a really good
job for us.
“We are now sitting with 18 or
19 players and if we can avoid injuries and suspensions then we should
get through OK.
“That’s the gamble I’m prepared to take.
“I don’t want the club bringing in a level of player I don’t feel is
exactly what we want. I hope it’s a case of quality rather than
quantity.”
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