TOFFEES SCRAP PRODAN MOVE

Smith targeted the 29-year-old ace, who is available on a free transfer, after he impressed during pre-season training at the club.

The former Rangers star, who never played a game for the Ibrox outfit because of a knee injury, had proved his fitness again by playing at former club Rocar Bucharest and Smith saw him as partner to new signing Alan Stubbs in the Toffees defence.

Prodan had entered into negotiations with Everton officials last weekend, but the talks have broken down and Smith denied they broke down as had been reported elsewhere because of money.

"They are not financial reasons but one or two clauses that were placed in the contract to cover us in a medical sense weren't acceptable to the other parties," Smith told the club's official website. "Therefore we found it was better to just give up on that signing."