Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, has identified Grant Hanley of Blackburn Rovers as the man he wants to stiffen his defence as he leads the Ibrox side into a Ladbrokes SPFL Premiership challenge next season.
Hanley, the Scotland centre back, is among a number of defenders being considered by the Rangers manager, and is believed by sources close to Ibrox to be his No 1 target.
The 24-year-old is under contract to Blackburn until June 2018, and could command a transfer fee in the region of £3 million. Hanley, though, is understood to be considering his options following a disappointing season for Blackburn Rovers, who are 15th in the Sky Bet Championship and have parted company with their manager, Paul Lambert.
Hanley was on Rangers’ books for two years as a youth, but left to sign for Rovers as a 16-year-old in 2008. It is understood that he is open to the possibility of returning to Rangers, though the Ibrox club could face stiff competition and even be priced out of the market by clubs in England also interested in signing him.
Warburton has made plain his view that Rangers require around five quality signings to feel realistic about mounting a challenge for the title next season. Already on their way to Ibrox are the attacking players Josh Windass and Matt Crooks, both signed on pre-contracts from Accrington Stanley.
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The central defensive pair of Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson have been the subject of intermittent criticism this season. Hanley has been viewed as a rock of the Blackburn side this season, despite their league woes, and has been club captain for the past two seasons. He has made 45 appearances so far this season for the club, while also taking his haul of Scotland caps to 21.