With Danny Wilson’s head reportedly turned, will Rangers now block Sunderland’s David Bates move?

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Scottish Premiership giants Rangers could see two defenders leave Ibrox with Danny Wilson eyed by the MLS and David Bates by Sunderland.

Rangers were expected to tie down Danny Wilson to a long-term contract but, suddenly, his future at Ibrox is in more doubt than ever.

The former Liverpool defender is out of contract at the end of the season and, according to the Daily Record, is tempted by the prospect of moving to the MLS with a number of offers on the table from clubs across the Atlantic.

Wilson has been one of Rangers’ better performers since Graeme Murty replaced Pedro Caixinha in the dugout and his departure, either now or at the end of the season, would come as a major blow.

And with doubts around the 26-year-old increasing, Rangers must now be encouraged to double their efforts to keep David Bates at Ibrox.

Like fellow centre-half Wilson, Bates will be a free agent in the summer. And the Daily Record reports that a number of English clubs, including Sunderland, are hoping to take advantage.

Sunderland are riddled with debt and unable to fund permanent deals for new players this month so the prospect of signing the 21-year-old for nothing in the summer obviously appeals.

But Rangers surely cannot afford to lose two key defenders on free transfers, so they must ensure that Bates finally commits his future to the club with negotiations over a new deal seemingly stalling.

Wilson might be a first-team regular for Rangers while Bates is something of a squad player but, while the former appears to have had his head turned by the glamour of the US, it is understood that the latter is keen to stay at his boyhood club.

Rangers, then, would probably be better suited putting all their efforts into keeping Bates; which is bad news for Sunderland.