Rangers have described claims by former striker Nikica Jelavic that he didn't want to leave the club in the January transfer window as "nonsense".

The Croatian, who was the Gers' top scorer this season, moved to Everton on Tuesday after one-and-a-half years at Ibrox.

"Nikica told Ally McCoist personally on Monday he wanted to move to the English Premier League so to suggest he didn't want to leave Rangers is nonsense," said chief operations officer Ali Russell.

"Nikica, and indeed his family, were widely quoted throughout January about playing in England and his agent also communicated the fact he wanted to achieve a lifetime ambition and test himself in the Premier League.

"He wants to earn a starting place for Croatia at Euro 2012 and felt a move to England's top flight would help him achieve that. Nikica was a terrific player for Rangers and we wish him well at Everton but to suggest he was forced to leave Ibrox is just ridiculous."

Rangers, who failed to find a replacement for Jelavic in the transfer window, host Dundee United in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.