Rangers closing in on the signing of Sporting teenager Umaro Balde

Rangers are set to complete the signing of highly-rated Portuguese midfielder Umaro Balde.

The 16-year old, who has come through Sporting’s highly acclaimed academy, has come to the end of his contract with the Portuguese outfit, and Rangers are in pole position to sign the youngster.

The Portuguese youth international, who played for Portugal U15s 5 times, only played 4 times for the Sporting U17s this season, but his most productive season came in 2016'/17, when he played 20 games for the under-15 team, getting 2 goals from his defensive midfield position.

He has since been on a trial with the Socttish club and, having impressed, has been offered the chance to sign with the historic emblem, who finished 2nd in the Scottish Premier League last campaign.

Th Guinea Bissau-born midfielder is likely looking to move in a bid to get more game time with the Rangers youth team, having struggled to make the impact expected at Sporting.

Nevertheless, Sporting will be very disappointed in losing the player for free, with the youngster having shown much promise early on in his time at the academy.

Rangers are known to currently boast an impressive youth setup, and will be competing in the UEFA Youth League next season too, which Porto are the current holders of.