Rangers closing in on signing of Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy

Rangers are close to completing a deal to sign Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy.

The centre-back is on course to be the Ibrox club’s tenth new signing of the summer and would strengthen head coach Russell Martin’s defensive options.

Mendy has been linked with a move to Rayo Vallecano this summer but is now poised to move to Rangers as he leaves Betis after two years in Spain.

The left-sided defender began his career with Paris FC and moved to Betis in 2023, initially on loan with their B team. He made two appearances in the Conference League last season, and played twice in La Liga, but is ready to move on and will hope for regular first-team football at Ibrox.

Rangers have already brought in two centre-backs this summer as Martin revamps his squad.

Nasser Djiga moved on loan from Wolves and has started every game so far. However, he was sent off against Dundee on Sunday and will miss the Old Firm derby against Celtic if Rangers progress to the Champions League play-off round.

The defender is currently suspended for the next Premiership match, against St Mirren on August 24, but if Rangers see off Viktoria Plzen to go through in the Champions League, that domestic fixture will be postponed and Djiga will miss the derby instead.

Emmanuel Fernandez has also been signed from Peterborough but the centre-back has not played for Rangers yet.

Speaking after Saturday’s home draw with Dundee, Martin said that it would take time to make changes to the squad and to improve the team.

“Every club I have been at, it’s a bit of pain, and when you get through that pain, it’s so worth it,” he said. “I don’t think I expected anything less coming here; it’s not going to be a quick fix.

“This club has not had success for a long, long time. I’ve been asked about the supporters’ reaction and I just don’t have a problem because I understand it.

“We are at a point now at this club where something needed to change.

“The ownership has changed, there’s a new coaching staff, there’s new players, there’s hopefully a new way of behaving in the training ground – properly, every single day, regarding standards and what’s expected at this football club. So it’s not a quick fix and this is not me coming out and making excuses.

“I think we change the manager from year to year and nothing really changes.

“So now it’s about really changing the culture and the feel of the club day in and day out. That will end up in a good outcome. Good process, good people, will always end up in a good outcome. But maybe not so quickly as everyone wants.”