Director speaks out on future of 26-year-old international Rangers are reportedly very keen on

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Steven Gerrard’s Glasgow Rangers are reportedly hoping to bring to Ibrox a 26-year-old midfielder who has impressed for a newly-promoted team on the continent, but his club’s sporting director appears to have other ideas.

According to a report L’Equipe from earlier this month, Rangers have expressed an interest in Brest ace and Algeria international Haris Belkebla.

The report claimed that the Ibrox side has “come forward” and “could quickly make an offer” for the player, who is also said to be on the radar of Ligue 1-bound Lens.

Belkebla, who is under contract until 2022, has had a fantastic season with Brest, who finished 14th in Ligue 1 after being promoted from the French second tier last season.

However, with Brest set to lose another key midfielder in Ibrahima Diallo, sporting director Gregory Lorenzi will do everything he can to stop Belkebla becoming another outgoing.

“There is no opening for a possible departure of the player,” Lorenzi told L’Equipe about Belkebla. “We are in the spirit of wanting to strengthen (rather than weaken our squad).”

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Belkebla looks like a great talent, having impressed for a newly-promoted club and helping them safely survive in the French top flight.

There are plenty of gems in other top European leagues playing for somewhat modest clubs so the Rangers scouts have done good work in identifying him.

Admittedly, Brest aren’t in any mood to let him leave – but surely a charm offensive from Ibrox, both in terms of money and of ambition, could succeed in bringing the Algeria international to Glasgow.