Chukwuani nears Rangers deal & Gillespie set for Ibrox CEO role

Rangers are set to announce the signing of midfielder Tochi Chukwuani from Austrian club Sturm Graz before Sunday's game at Aberdeen and confirm St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie as their new chief executive early next week.

The Scottish Premiership club are also working on a deal to sign left-back Tuur Rommens from Belgian club Westerloo, but it could be late next week before that move is completed.

Rangers are widely expected to be busy during the January transfer window, with chairman Andrew Cavenagh on record saying that the Ibrox club needs a left-back and a defensive midfielder, as well as creativity and goals.

Denmark under-21 international Chukwuani, 22, has predominantly played on the left side of midfield this season, including in a 2-1 win against Russell Martin's Rangers in the Europa League earlier this term.

Belgian under-21 international Rommens, also 22, began his career at Genk and attracted interest from Feyenoord in the summer.

Gillespie, 47, has been heavily linked with the chief executive position at Ibrox since Patrick Stewart left in November.

As well as being an influential force at St Mirren, Gillespie is CEO of the children's charity The Kibble.

A Rangers supporter, he was linked with the role when James Bisgrove left Rangers to move to Saudi Arabia just before the 2024-25 season. Gillespie spoke to then-chairman John Bennett about moving to Ibrox, but a switch did not materialise.

"Rangers are a massive institution, a great organisation, and ultimately you have those conversations," he said at the time "But I've got an amazing job at Kibble.

"It's rewarding in more than just financial terms to make a difference to the kids I work with on a daily basis, or the staff I lean on.

"That's something special – and obviously I'm now firmly embedded in St Mirren. Whether it's Rangers or other clubs, you've got to listen."

It's believed that Rangers chairman Cavenagh was always keen on getting somebody with experience of Scottish football but he also cast the net wider than just domestic contenders.

Cavenagh was asked recently why the club wasn't pursuing a big name CEO from a major club, somebody with a bit of glamour attached.

Stewart had come to Rangers via Manchester United where he had an interim spell as chief executive spell during his 18-months at the club in various boardroom roles.

It's understood that Cavenagh doesn't believe that Rangers need a person with a high-profile, just somebody with a clear competency to execute the plan as devised by the consortium who own the club.