Middlesbrough have emerged as transfer rivals to Rangers in the race to sign Leicester City winger Stephy Mavididi.

The 28-year-old is one of several names tipped to leave the Foxes this summer as they face a need to sell some of their top talents, with Jeremy Monga, Harry Winks and Abdul Fatawu already out of the door.

Middlesbrough Eye Deal

Rangers have been long-standing suitors of the former Charlton Athletic winger, with a report from Scottish journalist Mark Hendry stating last month that the Ibrox club have already held talks with Leicester over a deal.

At the time, it was touted that the Glasgow club would be willing to offer as much as £7 million in their efforts to pry the winger to Ibrox as Derek McInnes looks to strengthen his wide options.

However, they are no longer alone in their interest in Mavididi, with Football League World now reporting that Middlesbrough are interested in signing the left winger, having let Delano Burgzorg join Preston North End on loan.

Other unnamed Championship clubs are also in the race to strike a deal for the former Arsenal academy prospect, who was brought to Leicester for a reported £6.4 million fee from French side Montpellier.

Former Gers boss Russell Martin has already taken steps to bolster his wing options this summer in the wake of Jeremy Monga’s exit to Manchester City, having recruited Tommy Watson on loan.

Both him and Mavididi played in the Foxes’ opening game of the season against Northampton Town in the EFL Cup, with the former getting the nod from the start in the 1-0 win at home.

McInnes Faces Major Decision

Having sold Oliver Antman early in the window and replacing him with Hannover’s Daisuke Yokota, Rangers have addressed their right-wing transfer issues, but now face a major task in bolstering their options across the front line.

While they have made some positive progress with a reported £6.5 deal to sign Couhaib Driouech from PSV already over the line, according to Anthony Joseph, adding one more option may be pivotal, and Stephy Mavididi could certainly be that.

A winger may not be the most pressing concern given the devastating injury to Youssef Chermiti on their opening day against Hibernian, but nevertheless, the 28-year-old would bring a dynamic attacker to their ranks if he can recapture his form from his debut Leicester City season.

But with Middlesbrough and a host of other Championship clubs now in the race to sign him, Rangers must now make a quick decision of whether to gun for Mavididi and get a deal done quickly before their rivals have a chance to beat them to the punch