A new winger at Elland Road was Marcelo Bielsa’s number one priority in January, but we could not get the Daniel James deal over the line thanks to Swansea pulling the plug in the eleventh hour of Deadline Day.
Reportedly, attentions then turned north of the border, with Motherwell’s emerging sensation Jake Hastie tipped to be a target of a number of English sides, including the Whites and promotion rivals Norwich and West Brom.
Unfortunately, developments since the Daily Record revealed we had sent scouts to see Hastie in action against St Mirren, when he scored a scorching rocket into the top corner, suggest whatever efforts Victor Orta made have fallen short.
That is because Football Insider now understands that Rangers are close to sealing Hastie to a four-year deal worth £15,000-a-week including bonuses.
The European qualifying hopefuls are making a habit of signing soon-to-be free agents before their current deals expire, having lured Glen Kamara and Jordan Jones to Ibrox in January.
Hastie’s reported new wage at the Gers also represents a sizable pay rise for the Scotland Under 21 international, who only realistically burst onto the scene at the turn of the year upon his return to Motherwell from a middle of the road loan spell with Championship strugglers Alloa Athletic.