Rangers poised to seal first January transfer in new Fernandes twist
Rangers are poised to secure the services of Lille defender Rafael Fernandes, according to the Scottish Sun.
The news outlet took to X to claim on 17 January that the 22-year-old is on the radar of the Ibrox club in this transfer window.
Even if he is signed in time for the Manchester United game on 23 January, he will not be eligible to feature as the European squad list cannot be tinkered with until the current league phase finishes.
Rafael Fernandes would be a quality signing for Rangers
Fernandes could bring much-needed depth and quality to Gers’ backline, particularly at a time when injuries have left the backline stretched.
At 22, Fernandes is a young, promising centre-back with experience from the Portuguese top flight through his time at Arouca before moving to Lille.
Although he hasn’t made a first-team appearance for Lille, his potential and the interest from other French clubs indicate he possesses attributes that could be beneficial for Gers.
His presence might help in shoring up the defence for the second half of the season, potentially offering stability and competition for places, which could elevate the overall performance of the defensive unit.
Nils Koppen needs to be sure that he will strengthen the playing eleven otherwise signing him does not make too much sense.
Hopefully, if not Fernandes, a quality defender arrives at Ibrox before the transfer window closes in February.
In other Rangers news, a first-team player is likely to join an English club in the January transfer window.
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