Dan Neil to Rangers transfer gets insider's rubber stamp as Danny Rohl told playmaker would be a coup

Scotland striker George Hirst says Rangers would be lucky to have transfer target Dan Neil if they can get him to Ibrox. The Ipswich Town striker played alongside the Sunderland midfielder at Portman Road in the second half of last season. Neil joined the Tractor Boys on loan in January and helped Kieran McKenna’s side achieve promotion back to the Premier League. The 24-year-old is out of contract this summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Rangers.

Gers gaffer Danny Rohl is an admirer of Neil from his time in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday. He captained the Black Cats on their journey back to England’s top flight but has struggled for game time after the arrival of current skipper, Swiss star Granit Xhaka. Rangers are just one of the clubs interested in signing Neil on a free transfer. Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, are also reported to be keen after their Premier League promotion last term.

Hirst was impressed by Neil during his short stint at Ipswich - both on and off the park. He’s convinced that if he did end up in Glasgow, he’d have no problem handling the pressure and intensity of life at an Old Firm club because he’d be used to a similar situation in the North East. Hirst, who is part of Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad, said: “Dan is a quality player and I can’t say a bad word about him as a guy either. “He came to us in January and fitted in straight away. “He’s playing for Sunderland having come through their academy and they’re another big club. “That area is football mad, you’re either Sunderland or Newcastle. “So that in itself comes with a pressure so Dan has grown up used to having it. “He’s a quality player, on the ball, excellent, as he’s tidy and clean. And off the ball, he does the dirty stuff as well. “I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know where he’ll end up going. “But whoever gets him will be lucky to have him.” Rangers have already kicked off their summer recruitment drive by signing Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland on a free transfer.

The striker agreed to a two-year deal at Ibrox - with an option for a third - becoming Rohl's first capture ahead of the new season before he joined Hirst and Co at Scotland 's base camp ahead of the World Cup. Rangers owner Andrew Cavenagh is deliberately targeting leaders for the squad after yet another trophy-less campaign where they finished third in the Scottish Premiership. Sunderland stalwart Neil also falls into that category but the Ibrox club face a fight for his signature with interest from the UK and abroad.