Rangers fans are fanatically updating their phone screens waiting on transfer news this week.
With the Scottish Premiership’s big kick-off on the horizon, the Champions League QR3 squad deadline is looming large.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement is clear there is still much work to be done on his squad but the games wait for nobody as a frantic August prepares to kick off at Tynecastle.
But one player strongly linked with a move to Rangers could be about to see an offer land from Old Firm rivals Celtic.
And raise the transfer nerves at Ibrox further as a result.
Celtic join Rangers in Mejbri chase
Rangers have been strongly linked with a move for Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
The transfer was so far down the line that talks were said to be at an ‘advanced stage’ after Hannibal played in the 2-0 defeat of Rangers at Murrayfield.
The 21-year-old Tunisian international joined the Red Devils as a 16-year-old but is now surplus to requirements as he enters the final year of his contract.
The Rangers links then deepened when transfer guru Fabrizio Romano chimed in this week.
Namedropping Rangers in the Hannibal hunt, the Italian journalist claims that Manchester United are looking to ship the ex-AS Monaco youth out the door permanently.
As Rangers fans nervously await an update, a report in the player’s native Tunisia has claimed that Old Firm rivals Celtic are preparing an offer.
According to Mosaïque FM sources, Celtic are readying a bid for Hannibal Mejbri in news which potentially blows the Ibrox transfer hunt wide open.
Interestingly, there is no mention of Rangers in the Tunisian report.
Given the widespread reporting around Rangers’ interest, we wonder if sources in Tunisia have quite simply confused the two Old Firm clubs.
Celtic Park stability to challenge Rangers
Rangers fans want new signings in the door at Ibrox and they want them now.
Midfield is one area of the park which is decidedly short at the moment and Hannibal Mejbri would be an exciting addition to the club.
Whilst the one time €10m (£8.4m) (Standard) Manchester United wonderkid hasn’t quite made the grade at Old Trafford, Rangers could present an exciting opportunity.
But with the lure of guaranteed Champions League football at the more stable Celtic Park, Rangers could find their recent domestic shortcomings coming back to haunt them here.
It remains unclear just how legitimate Celtic’s interest in Mejbri is but this isn’t the first time this week the Parkhead side have been linked to a Rangers target.
There have also been reports Celtic are considering a move for Lawrence Shankland amid complications in their pursuit of Norwich City’s Adam Idah.
