Rangers have been handed ultimate transfer leverage for £9.3m Claudio Braga deal

Rangers should be confident about signing Hearts striker Claudio Braga this summer.

The Gers have been linked with a move for the Portuguese ace as a reunion with Derek McInnes could be on the cards.

Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin have moved to the Light Blues as free agents and the Scottish manager may not be done raiding his former side yet.

Braga thrived at Hearts last season and it wouldn't be surprising to see McInnes tempt him to Ibrox.

The 55-year-old head coach has ambitions of immediately bringing success to the Glaswegian outfit after almost winning the William Hill Premiership with the Jam Tarts.

With the Scottish manager building an ambitious project in Govan, the 2025–26 PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year could potentially be ready to leave the Jambos.

Why Rangers could find themselves in favourable position to sign Claudio Braga

McInnes did something exceptional at Hearts last season and it will be difficult for any manager to replicate that in Gorgie.

Wouter Vrancken has been appointed at Tynecastle, bringing his attack-minded style of play to the Jam Tarts.

While Braga could be given the freedom and prominent role to thrive under the Belgian manager, that may not mean much.

Hearts suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat in Vrancken's first competitive game in charge against Sturm Graz.

The loss in the first leg of the Champions League's second qualifying round sets the Jam Tarts up to drop down into the Europa League.

The decline in Hearts' European prospects should hand the Glaswegian outfit the ultimate leverage to convince him that Govan would be the right place for his ambitions.

What Derek McInnes must do to sanction Claudio Braga transfer

Ibrox News have covered reports of Braga being aware of Rangers' interest in him.

Ipswich Town are ready to pay £9.3million to sign the former Aalesund centre-forward after he scored 14 goals in the league last season.

The Gers will likely have to pay a similar sum to sign the attacker from Hearts, but they may need to clear some space first.

Danilo looks to be on his way out of the Govan side, but Braga's addition would mean two more number nines could potentially have to leave Ibrox.

Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski make up McInnes' striker options at the Glaswegian outfit.