Rangers 'closing in' on 24y/o midfielder but suffer blow in bid for Scottish Premiership target

Manager Danny Rohl tried to lure Neil to Ibrox in January but the 24-year-old opted for a loan move to Ipswich Town, where he won a second consecutive promotion to the Premier League after making 17 appearances as Kieran McKenna’s side landed a runners-up spot in the Championship.

However, a permanent move to Portman Road is not expected to be on the agenda this summer as Neil’s Sunderland deal comes to an end.

Coventry City are believed to have shown an interest in the player as they prepare for life in the Premier League after winning the Championship title - but the Scottish Sun claims that Rangers are the ones "closing in" on the signing of the former Black Cats captain.

In an emotional statement penned after his departure from Sunderland was confirmed, the Academy of Light product said: “Above everything else, I would like to take this opportunity say thank you. To my coaches and team-mates, past and present, who were not only good professionals but great people, and to the wider staff and fans for supporting me throughout all the experiences we shared together. I’m proud of what we achieved during my time at the Club and for playing my part in taking it back to where it belongs, the Premier League. Captaining Sunderland was a boyhood dream that came true, and as a supporter for life, I’m excited to see what’s next on the journey.”

Meanwhile, Rangers look set to miss out on Dundee defender Luke Graham. The 22-year-old is likely to leave Dens Park this summer amid a flurry of transfer interest following a breakthrough season in Scotland's top flight.

Rangers have been credited with a strong interest in taking the centre-back to Ibrox, however, according to The News, Graham's preference is to test himself in the English second tier.

And that desire has put Pompey ahead of the Glasgow giants in the race to land the player they bid £1.5m for in the January window, with several other Championship sides also in the hunt.

Graham, who has joined Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for a pre-World Cup training camp, is reportedly being targeted by as many as 43 clubs as he enters the final year of his Dundee contract.

Rangers are set to make Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland their first signing of the summer with the deal expected to be completed in the next 24 hours pending a medical.

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