Rangers deadline day transfers: two wingers targeted, Kelsy latest, another Raskin bid received
Busy final few hours of the transfer window expected at Ibrox
Rangers are highly actively in the transfer market as they look to bring in a number of new additions on deadline day.
Scottish clubs have until 5pm on Thursday to complete deals before the window shuts until January.
Celtic and Hearts completed most of their business by Wednesday night ahead of the 11pm Uefa cut-off for registering players in time for the respective league phases of the Europa and Conference Leagues.
With no European football for Rangers following their elimination from the Conference League play-offs at the hands of Czech side Jablonec, Derek McInnes' side will work right up until today's deadline to bolster their squad for the domestic campaign, with outgoings also possible.
Here are the latest updates from Ibrox with less than five hours of the window remaining:
Kevin Kelsy latest
The 22-year-old striker is in the country and will be announced as a Rangers player before the 5pm deadline.
The Venezuela internationalist will complete a £9.5million transfer from MLS club Portland Timbers after agreeing a long-term contract at Ibrox.
Speaking after the 2-1 win over Falkirk on Wednesday night, Rangers manager McInnes said: “There’s no secret that we’ve worked hard to get Kevin here, so, yeah, I think so. But if we can get Kevin and add to our attacking threats, obviously with Youssef's injury, it’s been nearly a month since he got injured, we’ve been looking for that one, and thankfully we’ve got him."
Two wingers targeted
Rangers are still looking to further strengthen the forward areas ahead of the deadline and have been linked with two names on deadline day.
Stuttgart winger Badredine Bouanani is reportedly undergoing a medical ahead of a potential loan move with an option to buy. The 21-year-old Algerian international joined the German Bundesliga side in a £12m transfer from Nice last summer but has been unable to command a regular first team place.
Another live option for Rangers, according to reports, is Bosnian World Cup star Esmir Bajraktarevic. The PSV Eindhoven winger has 20 international caps after switching allegience from the USA, where he came through the ranks at New England Revolution. Rangers previously pulled out of a deal for his PSV team-mate Couhaib Driouech last month over a medical issue.
Whether Rangers are looking to bring in two wingers - or just one - remains to be seen.
Another Raskin bid received
Speaking after the 2-1 win over Falkirk on Wednesday night, Rangers manager McInnes said he expected Nicolas Raskin to stay beyond the deadline after the club turned down a loan bid from Besiktas earlier in the day.
However, Rangers' resolve is being tested on deadline day after the Turkish giants have returned with a permanent offer for the Belgian international.
According to Sky Sports, that bid has also been rejected as it fell below the Ibrox club's valuation of the player. Rangers are holding out for a specific fee, and it remains to be seen whether Besiktas return with an acceptable offer.
The Turkish transfer window remains open until midnight on Friday so this one could rumble on for an extra day.
Potential outgoings
There are other players who could potentially depart Ibrox today.
John Souttar is out of the first-team picture at Rangers and could be a viable option for Scottish Premiership clubs looking to add an experienced defender.
Bojan Miovski is another struggling for game-time and has been attracting interest from clubs in Europe, with Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland could go out on loan.
Thelo Aasgaard has already left the club after sealing a loan move to Anderlecht.
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