The latest in the Zinedine Ferhat story makes for interesting reading, with the Algerian international starting to look like a serious signing for the Rangers, following claims it could happen before the end of the month.

The 28-year old Nimes star, who had a stellar season in Ligue 1 in midfield with 6 goals and 10 assists is rated at a market value of about £8M but is in the last year of his contract and could be secured for an awful lot less.

Rangers have been linked to the ex-le Havre man for many months now, but he’s only just broken into the ‘big time’ the past couple of years with Ligue 1 football, having been in the wilderness of lower league till 2019.

But there’s no denying he’s a decent player, with an honourable 13 caps for his country, and a cut price deal to sign him now in time for the CL could be a wise use of money rather than waiting for his contract to expire.

Rangers’ CL participation is a big carrot, players who might not have been so interested now are, albeit the UEL wasn’t completely unenticing either.

But the CL is the real deal, a complete game-changer and it attracts players like Zerhat who want to step up a level.

For those unaware, Nimes went down to Ligue 2, and Ferhat wants a club with better prospects – with Rangers, Stevie and the CL, he has a very viable route.

Sure, the SPL is definitely inferior to Ligue 2, but that’s the only downside.

We’ll see what he chooses over the next two weeks.