Rangers are closing in on the summer signing of Fashion Sakala as Steven Gerrard ramps up his transfer plans ahead of next season.
The Scottish champions are in advanced talks with the KV Oostende attacker, who is out of contract in the summer.
Record Sport revealed Rangers’ interest in the 24-year-old back in January but the Ibrox club have significantly stepped up their interest since then and look set to get their man.
Sakala had attracted major interest from Lille, Belgium and several other European countries but is favouring Rangers.
The lure of playing under Gerrard and in the Champions League are two of the main pulls for Sakala.
Well-placed African sources have also confirmed Rangers are willing to offer a long-term deal to get a deal done, which would be subject to a work permit being approved and the player passing a medical.
Oostende had also pushed the boat out to keep Sakala but their advances have fallen on deaf ears.
He has been a major player for KV, along with Scotland star Jack Hendry, in them finishing fifth in Belgium’s top-flight and making the end of season play-offs in the process.
The Zambia international, who can play as a striker or wide, has scored an impressive 13 goals in 28 league games for KV.
Sakala moved to Belgium from Spartak Moscow in 2018 and has built up his growing reputation.
Belgium has been a big market for Gerrard and sporting director Ross Wilson.
It has brought them Ianis Hagi and Kemar Roofe so far.
Rangers have already done a lot of their summer work early.
They had agreed pre-contracts with Scott Wright and Jack Simpson but did deals to bring them in early in January.
Rangers have also agreed a similar pre-contract deal for Nnamdi Ofoborh, Simpson’s former Bournemouth team mate.
He is on loan at Huddersfield and will move to Ibrox on freedom of contract in the summer.
