Grant Hanley endgame, Ryan Porteous focus and £10m murmur gets an answer – Rangers transfer state of play

Rangers are hoping to bolster their defensive options this month - but one reported target that Philippe Clement is set to miss out on his Scotland defender Grant Hanley.

The 33-year-old has been told he has not future at Norwich City under Johannes Hoff Thorup, despite racking up nearly 200 appearances for the Canaries since his arrival in 2017. Earlier this month, Hanley was touted as a surprise potential options to help fill the void left by the injured John Souttar.

But Pink Un now report that Hanley - who has won 59 caps for Scotland and represented them at two European Championships - is closing in on a move to Birmingham City in England's third tier. They add that Hanley has travelled to the West Midlands to complete a medical ahead of a free transfer that would bring his seven and a half-year spell with the Norfolk club to an end.

Hanley's international teammate Ryan Porteous is also said to be of interest to the Gers. Watford centre back Porteous has been a regular for the Hornets this season but with his team currently five points adrift of the play-off spots, boss Tom Cleverley insists his focus is on strengthening his squad across the board this month rather than let key stars leave.

He said: "I don’t want to disrespect the players we have in the building, because although we’re all focussed on what they can’t do due to the bad form, they’ve done a lot right this season to get us seven places higher than we finished the last one.

"But like you said, the last few games have shown that we do need to improve the squad if we want to mix it with Middlesbrough, West Brom, Blackburn. it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that."

Funds will be tight for Clement this month and the former Monaco and Genk boss may