Rangers pursuit of Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil will not materialise this January, with the previously one-club man instead set for a move within England.
The 24-year-old midfielder is undergoing a medical with English Championship side Ipswich Town, ending speculation that had linked him with a switch to Ibrox in recent weeks.
Rangers had been credited with interest as they explored options to add experience and control at the base of midfield.
Neil was central to Sunderland’s promotion-winning campaign last season, captaining the side and playing a key role in their rise. However, his involvement diminished following a significant summer rebuild at the Stadium of Light.
The arrivals of Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra reshaped the midfield picture, and Neil found himself on the fringes as the Black Cats returned to Premier League football.
A loan move has now emerged as the solution. The switch to Ipswich is expected to run until the end of the season, when Neil’s contract expires. That detail is crucial in understanding Rangers stance. Sunderland were reportedly seeking a fee of around £3 million this month, a figure Rangers were not prepared to meet for a player with only six months left on his deal.
Rangers January approach has been defined by value discipline as much as squad need. While the club remain in the market for a physical, experienced number six, they have been reluctant to overcommit financially on short-term situations.
That logic also explains why other midfielders admired at Ibrox are not expected to arrive in this window. Tromsø’s Jens Hjertø-Dahl and BK Häcken’s Silas Andersen both continue to attract interest from Rangers recruitment team, but they are viewed as longer-term, developmental targets rather than immediate fixes for the demands of a title run-in.
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris hinted last week that departures were possible for players needing minutes.
“It’s tough to speak about individual players,” he said.
“The whole idea is still the same. For players who need minutes, the conversation is still open. If we can find an agreement, positive, for both sides, the club and them, we’ll move forward.”
Elsewhere, Rangers are not pursuing a loan move for Romaine Mundle despite rumours earlier in the month. The arrival of Andreas Skov Olsen from Wolfsburg has reduced the urgency in wide areas. However, that position could be revisited if Findlay Curtis departs on loan, with Kilmarnock, managed by Neil McCann, interested in taking him for the second half of the season.
Interest also remains in Damir Rezdic as part of Rangers longer-term planning, but the immediate focus stays on adding authority in midfield. Neil, however, will not be part of that equation.