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Rangers-bound star completes Ibrox medical as club close to 'finalising' short-term deal in problem position Rangers near signing number 10 of the summer transfer window Rangers are closing in on their tenth signing of the summer window as former Hearts left back James Penrice completes his Ibrox medical ahead of a loan move. The 27-year old is on the verge of signing from Greek Super League champions AEK Athens on a season-long loan deal and is now ‘finalising’ paperwork in Glasgow. Rangers will have an option to buy Penrice at the end of his contract. The Scotsman moved from Tynecastle to the Greek capital just over 12 months ago for a fee of £2m in a transfer given the green light by former Hearts and current Rangers boss Derek McInnes. Following the groin injury to mainstay left back Tuur Rommens, Rangers currently have no first-team options in this area for up to eight weeks. The Premiership club are hoping to get Penrice in the building before their Last 16 Premier Sports Cup clash at home to St Mirren on Sunday. Penrice completes Rangers medical Sky Sports confirmed: “AEK Athens left-back James Penrice has completed a medical ahead of his move to Rangers. It’s understood the Ibrox club are finalising the paperwork on the deal ahead of tomorrow’s League Cup clash at home to St Mirren. Sky Sports News reported on Thursday night that the clubs have agreed a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy.” Penrice featured for Partick Thistle and Livingston before his Hearts switch. In his debut season at Tynecastle, he picked up the Player of the Year award and was named in the Premiership’s Team of the Season. After another successful campaign in Greece, Celtic were also interest in striking a deal for the defender, along with EFL Championship sides Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers. It is a deal Rangers will want to get over the line as soon as possible after the confusing case of PSV winger Couhaib Driouech. The Moroccan had agreed personal terms with the club over a £7m transfer and was in the stands during their Europa League qualification disaster at Ibrox against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok. However talks collapsed at the 11th hour over an injury dispute. .jpeg?trim=206,0,207,0&crop=&width=640&quality=65>) McInnes pursues Penrice reunion The Rangers boss done everything he could to keep Penrice at Tynecastle last season and was impressed by his attitude despite their limited interaction. However, in the end he couldn’t deny the ‘brilliant money’ for the Jambos and was happy to see the Scotsman grab an exciting opportunity. He is clearly a player the Rangers gaffer admires, as he also tried to sign Penrice for Kilmarnock in 2023. On the Penrice transfer he said: "In an ideal world, I'm just in the door, I wanted to work him and have wanted to work with him for a while - but you have got to be fair and understand the situation. We heard he had interest from AEK Athens yesterday and spoke to James about it. At that stage, it was still a long way off in terms of the valuation but late last night we believed that AEK Athens had met the valuation for the club, which is brilliant money back and a great opportunity for James.”