Rangers in shock January transfer hijack

Ipswich Town are reportedly eager to hijack Rangers’ proposed January move for Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.

The 24-year-old was a regular in Sunderland’s promotion-winning side last term, however he has fallen down the pecking order following the club’s eye-catching summer business and is now on the verge of a winter exit.

Neil has only made four first-team appearances in all competitions so far this season and he has been an unused substitute in 19 of Sunderland’s 23 Premier League fixtures this term, while he was excluded from their matchday squad entirely to face West Ham United on Saturday.

Rangers have widely been considered as the frontrunners to land the Englishman before Transfer Deadline Day on 2 February, but Ipswich are now pushing to finalise an agreement for the midfielder.

That is according to The Daily Record, who claim that Kieran McKenna’s side have emerged as the new frontrunners for Neil’s signature after making a move this weekend.

The Tractor Boys are currently chasing promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and they have earmarked Neil as a priority winter signing as they look to close the gap to Championship leaders Coventry City.

It’s understood that Neil remains a top transfer target for Rangers, but Ipswich are now firmly in the driving seat and negotiations over a move to Portman Road are expected to advance over the next few days.

West Ham United are also interested in landing Neil, although they look set to miss out on his signature too.

Rangers’ January transfer plans

With a deal for Neil now unlikely, Rangers may be forced to pursue an alternative midfield target amid Connor Barron’s current injury layoff.

The Ibrox giants have already signed Sturm Graz midfielder Tochi Chukwuani (€4.6 million), KVC Westerlo defender Tuur Rommens (€3.6m) and Wolfsburg winger Andreas Skov Olsen (loan) so far this month, however they have been tipped to dip back into the transfer market before Deadline Day.

In addition to a new midfielder, a centre forward also remains on their radar, although Danny Rohl may be forced to rely on summer signings Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski for the remainder of the season.

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