Rangers reportedly held interest in Souleyman Doumbia before permanent Angers move

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A report from Goal has suggested Rangers showed interest in talented left-back Souleyman Doumbia for next season, but Steven Gerrard is unlikely to be managing the Ivory Coast international at Ibrox next term. 

Rangers have a first-choice left-back option in Borna Barisic but the loss of both Jon Flanagan and Andy Halliday this summer meant that Gerrard needed another left-back at Ibrox this summer.

Rangers eventually got that man, by snapping up the talented defender Calvin Bassey on a free transfer. 

But it seems Doumbia was also on Rangers’ radar. 

Goal claim that Rangers were ready to make a move for the 23-year-old, who finished last season on loan at Angers from Stade Rennais. 

However, that loan deal has now been made permanent. The Ligue 1 side confirmed on their official website that the apparent Rangers target has signed a deal until 2023 to stay at Rangers.

The fee is undisclosed, however, a report from L’Equipe in January suggested that the loan deal for Doumbia involved a purchase option of €3 million (£2.7m).

The one-cap Ivorian international would have been an impressive arrival for Rangers but fans will hope that Bassey can be the perfect back-up to Barisic at Ibrox next term and at a much lower price.