Rangers and Blackpool given £2m David Goodwillie target

Peter Houston has told Rangers, Blackpool and the other eight clubs interested in David Goodwillie they must meet Dundee United's valuation.

Rangers, who had a bid of just over £1m rejected a few weeks, had a fresh approach turned down this week after a rape charge against him was dropped.

Blackpool have also made an approach for the Scotland international.

"First and foremost, he'll not be going anywhere unless someone puts money on the table," Houston told BBC Scotland.

The United manager compared Goodwillie favourably to Scotland left-back Lee Wallace, who this month moved from Hearts to Rangers for around £1.5m as he entered the final year of his contract.

"We've got here a lad who scored 20 goals or something like that last year in the SPL," said Houston.

"That's brilliant for a provincial club like Dundee United.

"Rangers normally supply more chances than Dundee United - and I don't mean any disrespect to our boys - so how many goals is he potentially good enough to score for Rangers if he did go to them, for instance?"

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He is a striker good enough to play in the Scotland squad in the future and it gives Craig good selection problems that he is available now

Peter HoustonDundee United manager

Houston recalled Goodwillie suggesting that he would prefer a move to English football to escape the media spotlight that followed his court case.

"I don't know what David's thoughts are," admitted the manager.

"David spoke earlier that he wanted to go down south to get this nonsense out of the road. I don't know if that's changed yet.

"All I'll say to him is, think carefully where he is going to go.

"The chairman has made it well known what his valuation of the player is.

"If somebody wants to pay that and the chairman wants to accept it, David will be away."

Goodwillie and his agent were meeting United chairman Stephen Thompson on Tuesday after the latest expressions of interest.

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is understood to have spoken to Thompson and a cash bid meeting United's valuation of £2m could be imminent.

Arsenal were represented at United's Europa league match against Slask Wroclaw at Tannadice on Thursday, while Cardiff City previously expressed an interest.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Craig Levein told BBC Scotland he will consider bringing Goodwillie back in the national team set-up.following the court ruling.

Houston, who is Levein's assistant, said: "David might well have been in the squad for the games in May there, but because of the situation, David couldn't be called into the squad.

"He is a striker good enough to play in the Scotland squad in the future and it gives Craig good selection problems that he is available now."

Houston thought the closure of the rape case should give an added impetus to Goodwillie's career.

"We've said all along about David getting his career back on track fully focussed on football and now he can do that," the manager added.

"David Goodwillie on the park has been sensational over the last season even since this has hung over him."