Rangers star to remain at Ibrox for the 'foreseeable' after surprise transfer U-turn

Scott Wright will remain at Rangers for the “foreseeable” future following the collapse of a proposed move to Turkey, manager Michael Beale has confirmed.

The 26-year-old winger was expected to depart the Ibrox club after travelling to meet officials from newly-promoted Super Lig side Pendiskpor last month, but the deal has been kiboshed with head coach Osman Ozkoylu claiming “costs” were to blame for the failed move.

Wright is now back in the first-team picture at Rangers following the surprise U-turn and was brought off the bench in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Servette in the Champions League third round qualifying first leg tie at Ibrox.

And Beale is now expecting the player, who is under contract until 2025, to remain with the club beyond the end of the transfer window. “Scott Wright is a Rangers player for the foreseeable until anything changes,” explained the Rangers boss.

Scott Wright is back in the Rangers fold after the collapse of a proposed move to Turkey. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

One player who has departed Ibrox is youngster Alex Lowry with the 20-year-old attacking midfielder completing a season-long loan move to Premiership rivals Hearts last week with two appearances already under his belt. He came off the bench in the 2-0 win over St Johnstone on the opening weekend of the league season before making his first Hearts start in the 2-1 defeat to Rosenborg in the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round first leg tie in Norway on Thursday.

"Alex Lowry is there to play regular football at Hearts,” Beale said. “He has to earn his opportunity to play there and I think it is a good fit for him to get experience.”

Meanwhile, Jose Cifuentes will make his first Rangers start against Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday after a European cameo in midweek. The 24-year-old Ecuador international signed a four-year contract from Los Angeles FC last week and is the most recent of nine new recruits.

The midfielder was an unused substitute in the shock 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock in the cinch Premiership opener at Rugby Park last weekend but came on for Ryan Jack in the 77th minute of midweek win over Servette. The Gers boss has seen enough to give Cifuentes a start against the Lions.

He said: “He is playing tomorrow. He is a prime example, he didn’t get in until late on the previous Thursday, a bit of jet lag but I wanted him to be on the bench just to see Scottish football. There’s eight substitutes, let’s just get him there so he can understand the environment.

“He has just only moved into his new place the last couple of days so he is in and out of a hotel. I thought he was quite good when he came on the other night in a small glimpse but now I think he is ready.

“He has been playing since January. He knows his team-mates, there is ever such a small language barrier because he speaks decent enough English and he is ready to go now and I am looking forward to watching him tomorrow.”