RANGERS last night beat the transfer deadline to snap up five players on loan from Newcastle United.

 

Toon fringe stars Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete, Kevin Mbabu and Shane Ferguson have all signed on the dotted line with the Light Blues and will remain at Ibrox until the end of the season.

The prospect of players making the move north from St James' Park has been touted for several weeks, with United now offloading a handful of their most promising talents for the rest of the campaign.

Defender Streete is one of the most highly-rated players on the Tyneside books, and last night said he was 'looking forward' to the move after agreeing his loan switch, while fellow-stopper Mbabu has also joined the Gers.

Midfield pair Bigirimana and Vuckic will add competition for places in one of Rangers' weakest areas, while Northern Irishman Ferguson is a left-winger and has previously had a spell at Birmingham City.

The moves come just days after Newcastle owner Mike Ashley stumped up another crisis loan to keep the lights on at Ibrox, but fans reacted with fury over the details of his £10million loan that saw security over Rangers' assets, including Murray Park and the club's trademarks, handed over to the billionaire.

Ashley, who owns just under 9% of the shares in RIFC plc, is currently facing a Notice of Complaint from the SFA over alleged dual interest in Rangers and Newcastle, with a hearing date set for March 2, while Rangers will answer charges against them a fortnight later.

The deals to bring the five Toon kids to Ibrox further enhances the links between the two clubs where Ashley has a major say, with right-hand man Derek Llambias and close ally Barry Leach key members of the Gers board.

After flogging star man Lewis Macleod in a cut-price deal to Brentford earlier this month, and seeing Kyle McAusland and Arnold Peralta both released from their contracts, there was to prove to further first-team exits before the window closed.

Forward Dean Shiels was the subject of interest from Premiership sides Hamilton Accies and St Mirren, but the Northern Irishman remains on the books at Ibrox.

Reports suggested new Accies boss Martin Canning made an approach to land the former Hibs and Kilmarnock star before Sunday's League Cup semi-final clash with Celtic, but was rebuffed by the Light Blues before another enquiry was thrown out on deadline day.