Rangers boss Walter Smith has insisted that the “Old Firm’ side do not have to sell SPL Player of the Year Carlos Cuellar after failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Reports in the Glasgow press had linked Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Liverpool with a move for the 24-year-old central-defender. Citing the estimated £12million loss Rangers would suffer after their shock defeat to Lithuanian outfit FBK Kaunas, would leave the Gers needing to sell players.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos knows about Cuellar from his time in La Liga, with it reported that Tottenham and Aston Villa were both considering offers for the Spaniard.

However, Smith has revealed that there have been no enquiries for Cuellar and would not welcome one, while maintaining that the lack of Champions League football at Ibrox, did not mean the club had to sell players.

“We’ve not an offer for Carlos Cuellar,” Smith said.

“We don’t want one and we are not seeking one.

“We don’t have to sell the player at this stage. We don’t have to offload players simply because of that situation.

“Some players were going to leave anyway and that will still happen, but it’s not entirely because of our failure to qualify for the Champions League.”