Todd Cantwell is set to become the first signing of Michael Beale's Rangers era - and they are looking to combine him with Standard Liege’s Nicolas Raskin.
The Rangers manager wants to launch his January transfer window shopping into top gear and is preparing a third bid for Swansea City winger Morgan Whittaker. A fee has been agreed with English Championship side Norwich City alongside terms for playmaker Cantwell, who is out of contract at the end of this season. He has made his way north to have a medical and put the finishing touches on becoming a Rangers player, with Beale going out his way to meet the 24-year-old and convince him that Scotland is the place to be.
Business is not done there and with St Johnstone the opposition at McDiarmid Park this weekend on Scottish Cup fourth round duty, Liege midfielder Raskin is another player that Rangers have made their interest in known. Reports in Belgium claimed that they were in “advanced talks’ for the 21-year-old who they were linked with last summer, but weren’t interested at that point.
Liege have now dropped their compensation demands although that has sparked major European interest in Raskin. French clubs Toulouse and Marseille are two of the clubs who are interested.
Rangers are now at the table but as of last night there was no deal in place. Meanwhile, Rangers failed in a second bid for Swansea winger Whittaker but will try again.
The last offer was believed to be around £1.5 million including add-ons. Whittaker, who spent the first half of the season on-loan, is keen for the opportunity to join Rangers.
The Light Blues aren’t ready to throw in the towel and will go in again. The Welsh side are trying to persuade Whittaker to remain with the Swans.
Swansea boss Russell Martin is set to include the 22-year-old in his travelling squad for their weekend trip to Queen’s Park Rangers. Rangers’ would be forced to shelf their interest in this window if Whittaker was to play for Swansea before the close of the window.
He has already turned out for Plymouth on-loan and can only play for two teams in the one season.
