By Gavin Berry Mark Walker
Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal for Bournemouth鈥檚 Joe Rothwell. The 30-year-old midfielder is well known to the Ibrox side鈥檚 new owners having spent last season on loan at Leeds United. Russell Martin has only signed Max Aarons since his arrival, with Lyall Cameron joining on a pre-contract from Dundee before he arrived the Ibrox hot-seat. Rothwell鈥檚 set-piece deliveries were key in Daniel Farke鈥檚 men winning promotion to the English Premier League last season. And the Yorkshire Evening Post now say the player 鈥渋s expected to sign a two-year deal at Ibrox if a deal can be struck between Bournemouth and Rangers鈥. It would be the second transfer between the two clubs this summer, with full back Aarons also arriving from the Cherries in a loan move. Aarons was also a target for Leeds United two summers ago before Bournemouth landed the deal. It鈥檚 a sign of how the 49ers Enterprises, in charge at both at Elland Road and Ibrox now, strategy will work. But Rothwell is known to Rangers boss Martin as they worked together at Southampton for six months, where he was on loan from Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Swiss champions FC Basel have vowed to do everything they can to bring Rangers target Metinho back to the club. The Ibrox club were linked with a move for the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder this week after his successful loan spell at Basel. He helped them to a Swiss cup double this season, but his loan spell has expired and he is back at French second tier outfit Troyes. Troyes paid 拢4 million to land Metinho four years ago from Fluminense, but have sent him out on three different loan spells and he appears certain to leave them this season permanently. And Basel have made it clear they will attempt to persuade the player to return to Switzerland. Sports director Daniel Stucki said: “We want to start the season with three or four proven midfielders. It’s no secret that we want to sign Metinho permanently. “Negotiations with his club are still ongoing. We want to promote several promising young midfielders from the Academy, but we know we need to strengthen too. It won’t be a quiet summer.” Metinho has also attracted reported interest from clubs across Europe too and his future is set to be decided imminently.