RANGERS will complete the deadline day signing of Nicolas Raskin after agreeing a fee with Standard Liege for the midfielder.

Boss Michael Beale identified Raskin as one of his key January targets and the Belgian follows Todd Cantwell in signing on at Ibrox following his move from Norwich City.

Rangers had two approaches rebuffed by Standard as they sought to maximise their fee for a player who had entered the final months of his contract at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

Beale refused to confirm the deal for Raskin at his media conference on Monday afternoon but will land his man before the close of business after terms were agreed on a four-and-a-half year contract.

Beale said: "He’s an excellent player, there’s loads of interest and he has a lot of options. He can connect the midfield and forwards, he is technically very good and can play as a No.6 or a No.8. Yeah, he will be a good signing for someone.

"Competition. If you think about who left that position of the pitch, Joe Aribo, what did he bring? Legs and energy.

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"It’s lazy to say he and Tillman are similar because they’re not. Malik brings something different to Joe and I feel that type of player would help us. One more would compete with Jack, Lundstram and Kamara."

Beale confirmed that Rangers will not return to the negotiating table in an attempt to sign Morgan Whittaker after seeing their bid turned down by Swansea City earlier this month.

His unnamed first choice striker to come in as a No.9 will not be available until the summer but there could be a move for a defender as the Englishman assembles his squad for the second half of the campaign.

Beale said: "I think we need to move forward just because there’s a little bit of uncertainty around our centre-half positions. When Connor and Ben weren’t fit we had to play midfielders there or Leon.

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"Leon’s had a fantastic first half of the season but that was a lot of pressure thrown on his young shoulders as well.

"I just want some certainty in that position and if we were to get an injury I still want certainty because you build a team from the back forward and you build a team out of possession first. It really helps if you have mainstays in the centre of your team."