Rangers are set to finalise a deal to bring Umaro Balde to Ibrox.
Rangers have already tied up three first-team signings for next season, and one youngster is heading to Ibrox too, according to reports.
The Gers have brought in Steven Davis, Jordan Jones and Jake Hastie on pre-contract agreements, but Steven Gerrard will still look for reinforcements.
Now, according to the Glasgow Evening Times, Rangers are poised to secure a two-year deal for Umaro Balde, with the Sporting youngster all set for a move.
Balde is far from a household name, and for any Rangers fans looking for more information about the Ibrox-bound youngster, here are five facts about him…
1. Balde, 16, started out his career with Damaiense, before heading to Sporting in 2014 to try and become their latest young star.
2. Primarily a holding midfielder, Balde has of course been in the Sporting Under-17 side, with no path to the first time just yet.
3. Balde was born in Guinea-Bissau, but has Portuguese citizenship, and has five caps for the Portugal Under-15’s, scoring one goal.
4. The teenager shares his name with another ex-Sporting talent, with Maritimo winger Umaro Balde a 19-year-old winger – but there is no relation between the two.
5. In 2017, Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho joked to Record that he wouldn’t even take €25million (£22million) for Balde, never mind first team holding midfielder William Carvalho, leading the youngster to joke about the valuation himself on Facebook.
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