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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Rangers transfer state of play as Evander puts Gio on alert and new Ross Barkley option emerges

It's set to be an eventful deadline day at Rangers as Gio van Bronckhorst looks to put his Champions League cash to good use and make a dent in European football's top table.

It's already been a busy window with seven new arrivals, many of whom are already making their mark. Tom Lawrence looks a shrewd addition on a free transfer while Antonio Colak has eased the reliance on Alfredo Morelos - and perhaps just in time.

And with just hours left of the window, a new attacking midfielder seems to be the priority and there are two big names on the table to that end. Brazilian playmaker Evander is dominating the headlines in Denmark as he looks to force a way out of Midtjylland. It had been understood that a move to Galatasaray was off the table after a breakdown in talks with Midtjylland, who are holding out for €7.5million (£6.5m) for the influential 24-year-old.

But new reports in Turkey note that a deal isn't completely dead in the water with negotiations expected to continue until "the final moment." It's understood nothing is off the table and it remains a live option for Rangers.

Free agent Ross Barkley is the other option on the table and the latest odds from SkyBet make Gers 5/4 favourites to land him. His former team Everton are second at 6/1 so it seems all the money is on a move to Ibrox.

Alan Nixon notes that the two Premier League clubs who were interested have now abandoned it to pursue other deals. It's speculated West Ham and his the Toffees were both keen but Aston Villa, who previously had him on loan, may also be in the picture - especially if Douglas Luiz joins Arsenal.

RMC Sport in France meanwhile claim that Nice, who signed Aaron Ramsey and have been linked with a £10m move for Glen Kamara, are considering offering him a deal. Kamara had been tipped as a last-minute target for Nice but it would likely take a mega bid to lure him away with the Finland international viewed as a key man for Van Bronckhorst. Now it seems they are assessing other midfield options.

Elsewhere on the outgoing front, Alfredo Morelos is the name on everyone's lips despite Gio van Bronckhorst insisting he's trained well and does have a future at Ibrox if he fights for it. Former Ibrox boss Alex McLeish, speaking to Football Insider , praised Van Bronckhorst's handling of the situation and urged Morelos to make the most of his peak years.

He said: "He is running out of contract and Rangers clearly want to get a big fee for him if his plan is to walk out at the end of the season. It starts to become a bit difficult once we get towards the endgame. This clear-the-air thing they have done is absolutely necessary.

"I’m sure it was an informal chat and Giovanni has the experience and the words to sort out that situation. These days you can’t bring players in and scream at them in your office, it’s more of a man-to-man situation. You are trying to get the reaction out of the player. Morelos has a few years of his career left and he has to make the most of that.”

An exit for youngster Stephen Kelly meanwhile looks likely with Livingston zeroing in on the 22-year-old. He's only managed three cameo appearances for the Gers first team but impressed on loan at Salford City last season and as he enters the final year on his contract, it's believed the Ibrox club would be willing to let him go for a modest fee.

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