Rangers are closing in on a deal for Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy as Russell Martin looks to bolster his Ibrox defence once again.
The Rangers Review reported last week that Martin had identified Mendy as a potential recruit this summer. Discussions have continued over the weekend and a final agreement could now be reached in the coming days to bring the Senegalese to Glasgow.
Rangers will pay around £2million for Mendy to become the tenth arrival of the summer transfer window. It is understood the 20-year-old will sign a long-term deal until the summer of 2029, with an option to extend the move for a further season.
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The Rangers Review understands that Mendy has set his heart on a move to Ibrox despite interest from Rayo Vallecano and he is now on the brink of securing a switch. The stopper - who started his career with Paris FC - sees his future in the Premiership rather than La Liga after three years in Seville.
Martin has already added Wolves defender Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez to his ranks this summer. Djiga will spent the season on loan at Ibrox, while Fernandez clinched a deal that could be worth up to £3million after moving from Peterborough United.
Rangers have remained in the market for a left-sided centre-back and Mendy has emerged as their prime candidate for the position. Martin allowed Robin Propper to return to FC Twente, while Ben Davies, Clinton Nsiala and Leon King are also surplus to requirements as Rangers reshape their back line.
Martin will finalise his preparations for the Champions League fixture with Viktoria Plzen on Monday afternoon before Rangers head to the Czech Republic. For the second successive week, Martin needs to see a reaction from his players as they head into European action on the back of a dismal domestic showing.
"It's so early on, the guys will be better for it," Martin said after the draw with Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday. "And I said there might be a bit of pain at times and we had a really great night on Tuesday, today not so good.
"But I'm not going to get too high or too low. We'll focus on improving, and I'm convinced with what I see, especially in the last 20 minutes with the reaction, the players, they are, they'll grow and they'll keep getting better."
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