Manchester City boss Joe Royle says it was memories of Paul Ritchie's performances for Wanderers last season that prompted him to swoop for the Scotland international defender.

Ritchie, who made 14 appearances in Wanderers' promotion run-in before joining Rangers on a Bosman free transfer, was completing his £500,000 move to Maine Road today.

Meanwhile Ranger chairman David Murray has sympathised with Ritchie, who has only been at Ibrox for two-and-a-half months.

The former Hearts player, 24, will move despite not playing competitively for the Scottish champions following his move from Wanderers.

But Murray admits that Ritchie, who will travel to Maine Road today to discuss personal terms, was in a no-win situation after Rangers captain Lorenzo Amoruso vowed to stay and fight for his place in the team.

"He is in a very difficult position because, in theory, when he joined, Amoruso was going to go but that didn't happen," said Murray.

"He doesn't see a future and is impatient and I can understand that. If he still feels like that then we'd let him go."

But City manager Joe Royle believes he could unearth the bargain of the season if he can seal the Ritchie deal.

"The more I think of Paul, the more I compare him with Chris Perry - and he cost Spurs £6million," said Royle.

"There are other defenders moving around at the moment for £3million so this is a bargain. The nice thing is he wants to play football."

But the move has offered former Hearts chairman, Leslie Deans, more ammunition in his war of words with current chief executive Chris Robinson, who released the player to Bolton for a nominal fee.

"It's a very disappointing situation indeed. Rangers end up with a substantial sum for a player they have had for two months," said Deans.

"Hearts have ended up with nothing for a player they had for eight years and nurtured from a boy."