Rangers well placed to agree 'great' Ryan Porteous deal
Rangers are well-placed to sign Watford centre-back Ryan Porteous this month and are "desperate" to get a deal over the line.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who remains well-connected within the game, explained that Gers are a "great" option for the defender if he wants to leave Vicarage Road.
The opportunity to sign a Scottish international who is playing regular football in the Championship and knows the SPFL well after his time at Hibernian is seen as ideal for Philippe Clement's side.
However, the 25-year-old's contract with Watford is set to run until 2027 and his place in Tom Cleverley's first-choice starting XI means Rangers could be priced out of a move.
Robinson explained that the deal will likely depend on whether Porteous sees his long-term future with the Hornets or whether a move to Ibrox would suit him.
Links with a move to Glasgow have come amid a centre-back injury crisis which saw Clinton Nsiala make his senior debut against Dundee while Leon King was the only bench option.
Rangers backed to land deal to sign Watford star Ryan Porteous
Now, he has hinted that a move for Porteous would be unlikely given the defender's prominent role at Watford as he has made 23 appearances so far this season despite being dropped from the side against Sheffield United on 4 January.
"He isn't out of contract until 2027," he told Football Insider.
"He didn't play against Sheffield United, but played in the previous two games.
"Watford have now dropped to ninth, but under Tom Cleverly they seem to be doing okay, and if he's playing, you wonder why he [Porteous] wants out.
"If he does want out, then Rangers are a great option for him.
"I think with that amount of time left on his contract, as daft as it sounds, there's obviously going to be a fee involved and it depends what's going on at Rangers.
"He's a good fit, a good centre-back, Scottish international, playing regularly in the Championship and knows the Scottish Premier League very, very well.
"Rangers are desperate for a new centre-back and he's a great fit.
"But they can't always have what they want because they can't afford it, and that's the situation I think they might be in at the moment."
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