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Rangers begin 'chasing' former Derek McInnes ally as versatile Serie A stalwart fits manager's bill The manager had claimed that the left side of the defence was one of the areas he’d like to strengthen Amid their push for defensive reinforcements, Rangers are ‘chasing’ Lecce centre back Corrie Ndaba - a player Derek McInnes knows very well from his days at Kilmarnock. The new Light Blues boss enlisted the defender, who can also be deployed at left fullback, on loan from Ipswich Town in 2023. After a successful short term spell, he then signed the 26-year old on a permanent deal. Ndaba left for Serie A side Lecce in the summer transfer window after McInnes took on the top job at Hearts. The Republic of Ireland international has earned two caps for his country. He came through the ranks at Ipswich Town but never recorded any first team appearances as he was farmed out to the likes of Ayr United and Salford City among others. He won the Player of the Year award for the latter. As a versatile defender with international experience, who McInnes knows inside out, Ndaba has all the makings of a Rangers player under the new regime. Rangers ‘chasing’ familiar face for McInnes According to prominent transfer journalist Pete O’Rourke, Rangers have expressed an interest in Ndaba but aren’t the only ones, with European clubs also monitoring. He said via X: “Rangers, Strasbourg and Goztepe are all chasing Lecce defender Corrie Ndaba in this summer’s transfer window.” At 6’ 2”, Ndaba would provide Rangers with a physical presence at the back. When at Ayr his manager Mark Kerr described him as, “a big, strong, athletic defender who is quick and good on the ball." Meanwhile his mentor at Ipswich Paul Cook was an admirer of his “naturally aggressive” style. Rangers are also reportedly looking at Philadelphia Union centre back Olwethu Makhanya as another potential addition, while current stopper John Souttar is being monitored by Sheffield United and Leicester City as his Ibrox exit edges closer. Ndaba fits McInnes wish list Earlier week the Rangers Review confirmed: “Rangers remain active and will look to recruit another handful of players in the coming weeks. It is understood that a left-sided centre-back, midfielder and additions in the wide areas are the priority for the recruitment team at present.” McInnes added: “We’re really pleased with the work that's been done. I think everyone deserves some credit for that. But at the same token, it's not enough yet. We've still got work to do and we're well aware that we need to be as ready as we can be. Ideally, we'd be as ready as we could be for the first game proper against Dundee United. But there's not a team in the country who will be as ready as they want to be for that. And the squad that it looks like now, to the squad that it looks like when the window closes, I think will be a wee bit different.”