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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Rangers transfer state of play on Stewart, Aribo, Colak and Lovelace

It's signing season and Rangers supporters are ready for their team to become active participants in the transfer drama.

Yes, veterans Steven Davis and Allan McGregor joined star man Connor Goldson in penning fresh terms at Ibrox. But there's a desire for fresh faces. John Souttar is raring to go after signing on pre-contract, as the Hearts star aims becoming a regular in Gio van Bronckhorst 's starting XI this season.

And sporting director Ross Wilson has big decisions to ponder with a trio of star men entering the final 12 months of their contract at Ibrox. Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos will be free to talk to other clubs in six months, so long-term resolutions will likely be sought imminently. The Europa League finalists are heading are gearing up for a return to training after a marathon season on all fronts.

Ross Stewart

Ross Stewart is a Rangers signing target but Sunderland do not want their star striker to go anywhere anytime soon. Record Sport revealed the Black Cats are primed to offer their talisman a new deal to ward off interest from Ibrox. Manager Alex Neil is determined to keep his best players and has tied down Lynden Gooch, Patrick Roberts and Anthony Patterson to new contracts at the Stadium of Light. And the former Norwich boss is hell-bent on improving Sunderland's squad upon their return to the Championship after three long seasons in English football's third their.

(Getty Images)

Neil, speaking to the Sunderland Echo, said: "You need to fight tooth and nail for every point. Providing we understand that, providing we go and try and do the best we possibly can in the recruitment window, and obviously add as much quality and depth as we can, we'll give ourselves the best chance of being successful."

Joe Aribo

Recruitment chiefs love spotting under the radar players but Aribo certainly isn't that. The Rangers midfielder is earning admiring glances from a clutch of clubs. and it's easy to see why.

The marathon man is never injured and he only has one year remaining on his current deal at Ibrox. Nottingham Forest are understood to be keen, however, they are now closing in on an alternative target.

Domen Crnigoj, a versatile midfielder from Venezia, is edging closer to the City Ground.

That move won't rule out a pursuit of Aribo, of course, but Steve Cooper is aiming to add the experienced Slovenian to his Premier League squad imminently.

Antonio Colak

A final decision is looming on the future of the PAOK striker, who appears primed to leave the Greek side on a permanent deal this summer.

The 29-year-old is a familiar face to Rangers supporters, after his all-action display dumped them out of Champions League qualifying last season.

PAOK want £2.5m for the striker and that switch could be facilitated by the imminent arrival of Keita Balde Diao, with the Cagliari striker expected to put the finishing touches on his switch in the coming days.

Zak Lovelace

The 16-year-old will join Rangers and he has earned a glowing verdict from the chairman of the side where made his breakthrough.

Rocky McMillan - speaking to the Glasgow Times - reckons the Millwall breakout star's impact is made more impressive by his later development.

He said: "Some guys do it at eight, nine or ten. Zak was doing it as a 12-year-old playing up age levels, just totally dominating the game with his physical attributes and his natural finishing ability.

(Getty Images)

"The guy has got a raw strength, an unbelievable strength, and even in the year above he was shrugging people off him.

"He has a willingness to learn and take things on board and he has got excellent parental support from his dad as well."

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