The delay in Rangers completing the signing of Dan Neil has been explained, as the Ibrox club remain favourites to land the midfielder despite the hold-up.
Rangers have been strongly linked with Neil in recent weeks, with some reports claiming that the Sunderland man is on the verge of a move to Glasgow following his impressive loan spell at Ipswich Town.
However, with the deal yet to be announced, questions have begun to rise about what is holding things up, and details shedding light on where things currently stand have now emerged.
The delay appears to be nothing more than the standard complexities of ironing out the details of a transfer, with any suggestion of a fundamental breakdown in negotiations already quashed.
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Alan Nixon explains Neil delay as Rangers retain pole position
According to Alan Nixon, work to take the 24-year-old to Govan remains ‘ongoing’.
The journalist also reported via his Patreon that the holdup centres on deal terms that are yet to be fully agreed – a common obstacle at this stage of transfer negotiations that does not necessarily signal serious problems on either side.
Crucially, Nixon’s assessment is that Rangers remain favourites in the race for Neil‘s signature, which is an encouraging update for supporters who had begun to wonder whether the deal was slipping away.
“Deals just need agreeing. Looks like Rangers [are] favourites, but nothing done yet”, he wrote on Patreon.
Neil’s contract at Sunderland is set to run out at the end of the month, following the end of his loan spell at Ipswich, where he made 17 appearances as Kieran McKenna’s side clinched the Championship runners-up spot and earned promotion to the Premier League.
A permanent move to Portman Road is not expected to materialise, leaving the door open for Rangers to press ahead.
Coventry City have also been credited with an interest, meaning Danny Rohl‘s side cannot afford to allow negotiations to drag on indefinitely, with other clubs ready to take advantage if a deal cannot be finalised.
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What happens next
Nixon’s characteristically concise update suggests the situation remains live and moving rather than stalled.
With Rangers holding favourites status and the deal simply requiring terms to be agreed, an announcement could yet come in the near future.
The summer window is long, but the Ibrox outfit will be keen to get this one over the line sooner rather than later.
