Jose Cordoba to Rangers OFF amid transfer soap opera as Thomas Galdames enters the mix

Rangers have ended their interest in Jose Cordoba as the Ibrox side pulled the plug on a deal for the £3m defender – with left-sided South American Thomas Galdames linked.

The Panama defender had been strongly linked with a move to Ibrox, although there was also fierce competition from Norwich, who are set to appoint Nordsjaelland manager Johannes Hoff Thorup as their new boss. Cordoba was expected to cost around £3million and he'd already been given a guided tour of Rangers' facilities on a visit to Glasgow where he took in a match against Kilmarnock. The Rangers Review state no deal will take place – and it comes after a report in Bulgaria stated the goalposts had moved.

He will be in their squad for two World Cup qualifiers against Guyana and Montserrat next month before the Copa America starts. Panama will play Uruguay, hosts USA and Bolivia in the group stage and any delay until after the tournament and Levski Sofia will stand tall to other suitors after Rangers exited the race. A spokesman for Levski is quoted in Bulgaria's 'Telegraph' publication as stating: "We are sure that Jose's participation in the Copa America tournament will raise his price. There he will be on a huge showcase, which will be watched from all corners of the world."

Meanwhile, Rangers have been linked with a move for Chilean defender Thomas Galdames who is set to play his last game for his Argentinian club Godoy Cruz this week. The Ibrox club are set to embark on a serious rebuilding job ahead of the new season after falling short in both the league and the Scottish Cup to Celtic. Manager Philippe Clement has already confirmed his first signing of the summer after completing the arrival of Brazilian full back Jefte.

And reports in South