MADJID BOUGHERRA has said he wants to play for Rangers in the last 16 of the Champions League next year.

This comes despite fresh speculation linking him with a move out of Ibrox.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was in Glasgow to watch Bougherra in action against Sevilla last night.

Despite the Scottish champion's heavy defeat, the Algerian defender again performed well.

Martinez is keen to land the £6million-rated player in order to strengthen his bid to keep Wigan in the Barclays Premier League.

This is not the first time the future of the former Charlton star, the SFWA Player of the Year last season, has been in the spotlight recently.

Bougherra spent the summer under scrutiny before deciding to stay in Scotland and play in European club football's premier tournament for the first time.

However, he is only concerned with helping Walter Smith's men bounce back from the disappointing setback they suffered last night.

The player, who scored a wonder goal on his debut in the competition in Stuttgart earlier this month, claims his team can still qualify for the knockout stages.

He said: "It was disappointing to lose to Sevilla and also to concede four goals. Especially after we played so well in the first half.

"But we are still confident we can do well.

"We had more possession and more chances than Sevilla for the first 50 minutes.

"We have to look at the positives and take confidence from them."

Bougherra says the 1-1 draw Unirea Urziceni gained with Stuttgart in Bucharest was good for Rangers.

He said: "Sevilla will now go on and win the group. Second place is between the other three clubs and we are still in with a good chance."