Rangers open talks with New York City for James Sands
Rangers have opened talks with New York City for James Sands, with discussions advancing well over a one-and-half year loan deal, according to Sportsmail.
The Ibrox outfit want to land the 21-year-old USA international midfielder cum centre-back on a temporary deal for the rest of 2021-22 and the whole of next season, and it appears it would go through.
Rangers want to strengthen their squad ahead of the second half of the campaign, and the addition of Sands should come in handy as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks to help them retain the Premiership title.
Move on the cards?
The Light Blues have been thin at the back at various times this season, with left-back Calvin Bassey being deployed centrally when needed.
Leon Balogun and Filip Helander headed into the winter break injured, and landing the versatile Sands would come in handy in that position.
He has played over 60 games for the MLS outfit after becoming the first academy player to progress to New York’s first team in 2017, helping them win the MLS Cup in 2021.
The USMNT sensation was part of the team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer, and his quality and experience should help Rangers.
With Connor Goldson likely to leave for free at the end of the campaign and agree a pre-contract with foreign clubs this month, the Bears are preparing for a potential departure, and Sands could prove to be a capable successor.
Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo are also regularly linked with Premier League moves, and GvB is looking for a player capable of filling in for either of them if it comes to that.
It appears Rangers have found someone who can do that well, and they will be keen to wrap up a deal for Sands before the end of the month.
In other Rangers news, a billionaire-owned club want Bears ace, had rep at Ibrox of recent.