George Overhill

Wed 5 July 2023 20:10, UK

Rangers are “yet to pull the trigger” on the deal to sign Jonathan Panzo from Nottingham Forest this summer, according to Football Scotland.

The capture of the 22-year-old centre-back is “very close to being done” according to The 4th Official on Monday (3 July), putting him in line to become the seventh summer signing at Ibrox after Cyriel Dessers arrives with Panzo named as Beale’s top option at the position.

But while the Light Blues know what it is going to cost in terms of fee and wages they appear to be holding off just yet from going through with the move.

Football Scotland‘s latest update on the deal is: “The defence is another area Beale wants to add at least one more body and Jonathan Panzo is the name most likely to make a move.

“Nottingham Forest have named their price and Rangers know how much it will cost in wages but they are yet to pull the trigger on that deal.”

Exits first?

With up to £5.6million in total set to be spent on Dessers it may be that the club is now waiting to secure some outgoing moves before they sign up for more expenditure.

They probably won’t be able to hold off for too long given there is thought to be interest in Panzo from a number of countries.

But so far Beale looks to be getting the pursuits of his preferred targets over the line, with the Dessers talks coming back to life just as it looked done for, and a possible breakthrough on the Jose Cifuentes move arriving as the Panzo talks got close to a conclusion.

Exactly how close to completion the defender’s deal might be only those involved in the discussions will know, but there are increasingly positive noises emerging after suggestions previously that the Premier League side had priced the Gers out.

Whether Beale’s targets are the right options will only be known if and when they are actually playing in Rangers shirts, but assuming he has identified the right man for the defence it would instantly make the central options look stronger.

John Souttar could yet be key but his injury record is suspect and Ben Davies or Leon King next to Connor Goldson doesn’t feel as formidable.

With sales on the cards sooner or later and the cash from them set to go straight back into the budget it may be a matter of getting a couple of exits tied up to balance spending for giving the go ahead of Panzo, but for now it appears he will wait as next in the queue.

In other Rangers news, a “bumper” bid is now on the way to tempt an unwanted Ibrox player into an exit.