Schalke winger Peter Lovenkrands is keen on making a move back to former club Glasgow Rangers.

Lovenkrands said: “As everyone knows, Rangers are a club that really mean a lot to me.

“I am under contract at Schalke for one more year so I can’t speak too much about where my future might be.

“But the club have not made clear to me whether they want me or not. I loved my time in Glasgow and my wife is Scottish, it’s a second home for me.

“My agent hasn’t spoken to me yet about any approach. But if I move on this summer, there’s no doubt Rangers would be my first choice.”

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has apologised to Manchester United after attempting to lure winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernebeu.

Calderon said: “We are not going to start a conflict. You can’t buy what the owner doesn’t want to sell. We have not interfered with United’s contract agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo. We’re sorry that United – a club with which we have an excellent relationship – is annoyed with us because Real Madrid have nothing to do with that aspect.

“I want to clear this up with him and assure him we are not going to influence any player to break a contractual relationship. We are not going to start a conflict. If a club doesn’t want to sell a player, why would we insist that they do sell him?”

Derby County have secured three signings today – they’ve taken Watford striker Nathan Ellington on a year’s loan, signed ex-Watford defender Jordan Stewart on a three-year deal, and agreed to sign Doncaster Rovers midfielder Paul Green on a Bosman free transfer.

Derby manager Paul Jewell told his club’s official website: “Nathan is a player I know a lot about and I think this is a really exciting signing for us.

“At his best he is can be the most lethal striker in the Championship; he has produced that form for me before, scoring 24 goals in a season at Wigan to get us promoted to the Premier League.

“I believe I can get Nathan to reproduce that form for Derby County and if he does he has the potential to be the best signing of the summer in this division.

“He has everything; he’s powerful, quick, great in the air and is a magnificent finisher. I can’t wait to work with him again and get him back to producing the type of football I know he can.”

He continued: “I tried to sign Jordan in the January transfer window but we ran out of time in the end.

“He is a great acquisition for us and someone who will have a big part to play in our promotion push next season.

“He has lightning pace and loves to get forward and attack. I want us to be more positive next season and get at teams.

“Jordan fits the bill for what I’m looking for and having met the lad he is hungry to perform and do well for Derby.”

He added: “Paul is an energetic, tenacious midfielder with an eye for goal and is in the prime of his career at the age of 25.

“He’s been a pivotal part of Doncaster’s success as they’ve risen through the leagues, which is reflected in how hard they have fought to keep him there.

“The player has displayed a hunger to me to play at the highest level and a desire to play and do well for Derby County.

“He is just the type of character I want in my dressing room and I’m delighted we’ve secured his signature.”

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng appears to be baffled over quotes attributed to him saying that both Celtic and Glasgow Rangers were interested in signing him.

Boateng told Sky Sports: “I’ve never spoken to anyone in Scotland. I have never spoken to anyone about Celtic and Rangers.

“I don’t know where they [the quotes] have come from.”

Boateng had earlier reportedly told Scottish Sun: “Before the transfer window opened five clubs were seriously interested in me. Two of the clubs were from Scotland and you can guess who they are.

“I wanted to talk to these clubs but ['Boro manager Gareth] Southgate didn’t allow it. I am very unhappy about this.

“The situation is difficult but my time at Middlesbrough is at an end.

“I am told both Glasgow clubs will come back for me this summer.”