Rangers manager Michael Beale has all but written off the club’s chances of signing Swansea’s Morgan Whittaker before tonight’s 12am deadline.

The Light Blues boss has confirmed that the club did make one formal bid for the winger, but he isn’t optimistic that a deal can be done this month:

“He will be staying at Swansea, I believe… There was just one bid that went in that got rejected. There’s been a lot of hot air around the situation. I think he’s a boy they like, that’s why they brought him back from Plymouth. They’ve obviously got their plans with him.”

“I thought he was the most eye-catching player in League One this season and he’s gone back to Swansea, they’re probably looking at the league table and thinking he’s a valuable asset. There’s no problem with it, he’s a good player and I wish him and Swansea well.”

It is believed that Swansea are holding out for a fee in the region of £2m for Whittaker, which is a figure that the Rangers are unwilling to pay.

The 22-year-old is clearly keen on making the switch to Ibrox, with the player having not played since he returned from his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle earlier this month.

Reports suggest Whittaker has told Swansea’s hierarchy that he isn’t in the right frame of mind to play, and he has been left out of Russell Martin’s matchday squads in recent matches. Anything can happen on deadline day so it’s not wise to completely rule out another offer for the player in the coming hours.