Rangers are interested in signing New York City FC centre-back James Sands, according to Tuttomercatoweb.com.

The Italian website reports that the Scottish champions have identified the 21-year-old as a potential option as they look to strengthen their numbers in the middle of defence.

Filip Helander remains sidelined with a knee injury and, with Leon Balogun travelling to play in the African Cup of Nations for Nigeria, Sands is being looked at as a possible reinforcement.

It’s likely that the American international has been on Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s radar for a while. After leaving Feyenoord in 2019, the Gers boss spent six months with the City Football Group where he would, undoubtedly, have watched Sands in action.

The defender is represented by the Wasserman sports agency who, coincidentally, also manage two Rangers players, John Lundstram and Connor Goldson, so negotiations should run smoothly.

Whether TMW‘s information is accurate, we shall have to wait and see. The January transfer window opens in just a few days.