Rafael Fernandes lands in Glasgow for Rangers move as silence broken on £2.5m Swedish option – Ibrox transfer bulletin

Rafael Fernandes has reportedly touched down in Scotland to get a loan move to Rangers over the line

Philippe Clement is desperate to beef-up his injury-hit backline and Portuguese kid Fernandes is being considered as a cost-effective solution to the Ibrox boss’ defensive crisis. Clement is sweating over Robin Propper’s availability ahead of Sunday's Scottish Cup opener with Highland League minnows Fraserburgh, while John Souttar and Nana Kasanwirjo remain out.

Fernandes is said to have been shown round Ibrox on Friday as talks on a six-month loan swoop took place with his Ligue 1 employers. The 22-year-old former Sporting Lisbon trainee made the move to French Flanders last year when he was signed from Portuguese top-flight side Arouca in a €3million deal.

He’s yet to break into the Lille first-team but Gers scouts have identified the 6ft 3ins centre-back as a decent ball-playing prospect who could fit into Clement’s line-up. It remains to be seen if an option to make the move permanent will be included in the agreement.

Propper and keeper Jack Butland are both racing to be fit for Gers’ Europa League trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford next Thursday. Butland suffered a leg bleed that required hospital treatment last month while Propper rolled his ankle against Aberdeen.

However, there was more positive news when skipper James Tavernier and veteran stopper Leon Balogun both made their returns to action in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dons.

Another mooted option to solve the defensive crisis as been Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal. The big Swede, a £2.5m signing from Djurgarden in January 2023, missed the first chunk of the season with injury and has struggled to force his way back into Scott Parker's plans in