Rangers’ reported transfer target could be their Karamoko Dembele

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Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal for Sporting CP youngster Umaro Balde.

The Evening Times claim the Light Blues are on the verge of securing a two-year contract for the 16-year-old starlet.

Balde had been on trial with Rangers and impressed coaches at the club’s Hummel Training Centre.

The Portuguese youth international has risen through the ranks of Sporting’s famous academy which has previously produced the likes of Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rangers won’t have to pay a fee to sign Balde and the Bissau-born teenager is expected to complete his move to Ibrox in due course.

Rangers signing Balde could very well mean comparisons are immediately drawn between he and Celtic’s Karamoko Dembele.

TBR’s view

With the players being the same age, fans are naturally likely to pit them against each other.

They aren’t comparable in terms of position, with Balde a ball playing holding midfielder and Dembele a winger, but certainly fans would be looking at how both develop.

Dembele has already made his first-team debut for Celtic having been brought on against Hearts by Neil Lennon last weekend.

The club have high hopes for the mercurial talent, who has been impressed on a regular basis in the academy last term.

Rangers fans will hope that Balde is able to come in and show that same level promise.