DUNDEE UNITED have told Rangers they want £2million for centre forward David Goodwillie.

Talks between the SPL clubs opened last night after an approach was made by the Ibrox outfit.

Ally McCoist identified the striker as a signing target immediately after it was confirmed he would take over from Walter Smith, and is now desperate to land him after failing to attract Israeli hitman Tomer Hemed last week. The new Rangers manager is a long-standing admirer of the 22-year-old and has informed owner Craig Whyte of his desire to sign him this summer.

It will, however, require a significant outlay to land Scotland's Young Player of the Year as United are adamant he won't be leaving unless they receive a bid of £2m.

The striker is contracted to the Tannadice club until 2014 after he signed a new deal last season, and it means Whyte will now have to back McCoist with a sizeable amount of money for what could be his first signing since taking over the hotseat.

A similar amount of money will also be required to convince new Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish to part company with Carlos Cuellar.

McCoist is hopeful the Spaniard will be allowed to leave the Midlands club this summer and return to Ibrox, but the arrival of big Eck at Villa might delay that deal as he takes time to assess his playing squad.

McLeish said: "It's possible I could need Carlos here. I know there is interest from Rangers but I will have to assess things from a Villa point of view.

"I need to speak with him and see where his mind is at. I need to weigh up the centre-back situation here. Every player will start with a clean slate."

It has been suggested McLeish might use Cuellar as part of a deal to land Allan McGregor as bringing in a new goalkeeper is a priority. He said: "We need a keeper and I have a number of names in mind. Allan's definitely a good goalie."

McCoist, however, has made it clear he isn't interested in cashing in on either McGregor or midfielder Steven Davis.

The Light Blues boss is keen to bring in some fresh faces as quickly as possible and has also held talks with Craig Conway, who is available on a Bosman deal and being tracked by a number of English clubs after his contract at Dundee United expired.

Rangers have been linked with Fulham's Welsh 18-year-old striker Richard Peniket, although Wolves and Birmingham are also thought to be keen.