Fulham manager Roy Hodgson last night insisted he will happily welcome Steven Davis back into his first-team plans unless Rangers match the London club’s £4million valuation.

Sportsmail understands Rangers made a fresh approach to the Craven Cottage outfit over the weekend to try to clinch the permanent signing of the Northern Ireland midfielder, who impressed on loan last season.

The Ibrox club, however, value Davis at closer to £3m and their hopes of using Daniel Cousin in part-exchange have been dismissed by Fulham.

Hodgson insisted he had no plans to drop the asking price, leaving the 23-year-old to sweat on his preferred move to Ibrox, while Middlesbrough and Newcastle monitor the situation.

‘Steven is a Fulham player,’ said Hodgson. ‘I know Rangers are interested in buying him and they have made bids which, so far, we have not found acceptable. He will only leave if a club matches our valuation.

‘I like Steven and get on well with him. But we were in a position last season where we were able to make him available for loan. It was no surprise to me that he did so well for Rangers and they want him back.

‘Every player has his price but, as far as we are concerned, Steven is still part of our squad and he will be welcomed back here.

‘We have signed one new midfield player but also lost a couple, so we are not trying to rush him out of the door.’