American rising star Maurice Edu is set to arrive from Toronto FC in a deal worth around £2.5m.
The powerful 22 year-old anchorman, capped six times by the USA and just back from Olympics in Beijing, is on stand-by to jet to Glasgow as soon as the deal is finalised with his MLS club.
Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes was today ay Murray Park after touring Ibrox this morning. And, if all goes well with his personal terms, the 29 year-old Portguese playmaker will sign a £3m deal.
Rangers have also tabled a £4m bid for Palermo midfielder Mark Bresciano and if that move for the Aussie doesn't come off, then a renewed effort will be made to sign Steven Davis from Fulham.
Insiders at Ibrox confirmed today that boss Walter Smith wants THREE new players for the midfield ranks before the transfer deadline at the end of the month, on top of Valencia kid Aaron Niguez who signed last night on a two-year loan deal.
The move for Edu has been on-going for some time. Smith has been tracking the player for months and has spoken to various US contacts, including Toronto boss Maurice Johnston.
Edu is recognised as one of the best young players to emerge in the States and has already attracted Premiership interest for his performance at international level, and he was voted MLS newcomer of the year in 2007.
Chief executive Martin Bain was holding contract talks with Mendes after he flew north this morning. And he is also awaiting an answer from Palermo on Bresciano.
As Rangers attempt to keep several options open, there has been further dialogue with Fulham over Davis. And sources say they are confident either Bresciano or Davis will come on board.
Rangers also say they backed away from the Glenn Loovens deal after it became clear the player wanted to play Champions League football at Celtic.
A £2.5m fee for a player in the final year of his contract was something Rangers would not match, but a centre-half will still be pursued.
Meanwhile, Rangers host Hearts tomorrow, and assistant boss Ally McCoist said: "It will be a tough game because you don't always know what you are going to get with Hearts."
