Rangers are in pole position to complete a deal for Liam Kelly as boss Philippe Clement continues his Ibrox overhaul ahead of the new campaign.
Keeper Kelly confirmed his exit from Motherwell on Friday and is now poised to return to the club where he started his career in the youth ranks as a ten-year-old.
The Rangers Review understands that a three-year contract has been put on the table for Kelly, who has also had stints at Livingston and Queen’s Park Rangers in recent seasons. The shot-stopper was this week named in Steve Clarke’s provisional Scotland squad for the European Championship and he is likely to head to Germany as a Rangers player as he closes in on an emotional return to Ibrox.
”To all my teammates, thank you for being the great guys that you are and making every day that we spent together so enjoyable, my relationship with every single one of you meant the world to me,” Kelly said in a statement on social media as he confirmed his departure from Fir Park. “To my manager, goalkeeping coaches and all the staff at the club, no matter your role, however big or small, thank you, it's been an honour to represent you.
“To the amazing supporters of this club, through all the good and the bad, we've experienced it all together, side by side. We aren't perfect, we have never claimed to be but what we always knew is that we'd turn up side by side and give everything we have every single week for our club.
"That unwavering loyalty and togetherness through the difficult times when everyone started to write us off as they always did is the sole reason why this great club will be in the top flight of Scottish football yet again for the 39th consecutive year. Being your captain has meant everything to me, I never took it for granted. Nothing will make me happier than to see this club go on to great success because it's what everyone deserves. Thank you and good luck. Liam."
Clement has previously reaffirmed his strong desire to retain number one Jack Butland despite interest from England in the Ibrox Player of the Year. Robby McCrorie is set to depart in pursuit of first team football and Jon McLaughlin will exit at the end of his deal.
Rangers will now look to push through the signing of Kelly after completing their first deal of the summer with the arrival of full-back Jefte on Friday. The Brazilian has put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract in Glasgow. Panamanian stopper Jose Cordoba remains a live target after being given a tour of Ibrox and taking in the Premiership fixture with Kilmarnock earlier this month.
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