The defender is pushing for a move to Glasgow in time for the Champions League clash with Panathinaikos
Rangers target Conor Coady has arrived in Austria for Leicester City’s pre-season training camp despite the clock running down on his chances of making Russell Martin’s Champions League squad.
Record Sport revealed on Tuesday that Coady had hoped to be given the green light to travel to Glasgow to conclude a much anticipated move to Ibrox rather than lead his team mates on a ten day summer tour under new boss Marti Cifuentes.
And we can also reveal that bosses from the cash strapped King Power outfit have now also earmarked the 32-year-old’s replacement – opening talks with an experienced Premier League defender who is available to join them as a free agent at the start of this week.
But Coady remains under contract and the 32-year-old has not yet been given permission to seal his move to Scotland. Instead, he boarded the team charter flight from the Midlands on Wednesday afternoon and touched down in Austria at team time.
That means new Rangers boss Martin may now have to go into next week’s crucial qualification first leg against Panathinaikos without the former England defender in his Euro ranks.
Martin has until Thursday night to register his squad with UEFA ahead of the visit from the Greeks, although a loophole allows competing clubs to add two further late additions up until 24 hours ahead of kick-off next Tuesday night.
But if Coady cannot be signed up before that deadline he would also be unable to play in the second leg in Athens where Martin is likely to require all hands on deck as he attempts to guide his new club into the next knock-out stage.
The news that discussions have already begun with Coady’s replacement, however, means that Martin’s hopes of beating the deadline may not yet be completely dashed.
He has already signed two central defenders this summer – Nasser Djiga on a loan deal from Wolves and Manny Fernandez from Peterborough – but still hopes to add Coady’s vast experience to the mix before the start of his first season in charge.
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