Boyd has struggled to establish himself in Walter Smtih's side

Cardiff City are preparing to make a second bid for Rangers and Scotland striker Kris Boyd.

The Ibrox club rejected �2.5m for the player on Friday, but the Championship outfit remain keen on the forward.

City chairman Peter Ridsdale, who declined to name the player Cardiff were chasing, said: "We're prepared to increase our offer."

Boyd, 24, has been linked with a move after Rangers signed Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty.

Doubts had arisen about Boyd's future after Walter Smith moved to bolster his attacking options with those three summer signings.

Boyd, who started on the bench for much of last season but still ended it as top scorer at Ibrox for a second campaign, has indicated he wants to remain at Rangers.

MY SPORT: DEBATE It's quite obvious Rangers are looking to sell him and want to attract more bids E-C-W

The striker was signed by then Rangers manager Alex McLeish from Kilmarnock in January 2006.

But Boyd found himself out of the starting line-up on many occasions as Smith adopted a single-striker formation.

He ended the season on a high with two goals, taking his total to 25 despite only 23 starts, in the Scottish Cup final victory over Queen of the South.

However, that strike rate has not deterred Smith from paying Derby County �2m for Boyd's Scotland colleague, Miller, acquiring Velicka from Viking Stavanger for �1m and this week's �3m purchase of Lafferty from Burnley.

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones is likely to improve the club's offer in an effort to land Boyd before the start of the new season.

Rangers now have a plethora of strikers on their books.

Nacho Novo signed a contract extension in December.

Fulham appear to have cooled their interest in Daniel Cousin after a failed bid last season.

Jean-Claude Darcheville, who was first choice for much of last season, has been quoted as saying that he is determined to fight for his place.

Rangers also have Steven Naismith, the presently-injured Scotland Under-21 international.

Thomas Buffel, who has been linked with a move back to Belgium, and Lee McCulloch, have also been utilised up front.

While Rangers did not name Cardiff as the bidder for Boyd, the beaten FA Cup finalists are known to be looking to strengthen their forward line, despite offering veteran former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler a new contract.