BOB Malcolm has expressed hope that Rangers can agree a deal with Barclays Premier League club Brighton for his former Motherwell team mate Jamie Murphy in the coming weeks.

Murphy has hardly featured for Chris Hughton’s side in the top flight this season and the forward, who can be played either up front or out wide, is believed to be interested in a move to Ibrox.

The 29-year-old grew up supporting Rangers and was the subject of a failed bid by his childhood heroes when he was at Motherwell back in 2015. He moved to Sheffield United instead.

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Brighton, who are set to table a £20 million bid for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele in the coming days, are holding out for a fee in the region of £1 million.

Malcolm, who still attends Rangers matches home and away, believes Murphy would add another dimension to the Ibrox club’s play in the final third and is exactly the kind of player Graeme Murty should add to his squad.

“Jamie is a great player and a good lad as well,” he said. “He can play both as a winger and up front as well. They need to get players like that back at the club, guys who know what it’s all about. He is still a good age too. It would be a great bit of business.

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“Rangers don’t have anybody like Jamie at the moment. They have obviously got Alfredo who has got great strengths and has scored a fair few goals. But they don’t really have anybody who can take the ball and attack, who can go at players.

“Jamie can take the ball, beat one or two players and have a shot at goal. He can create his own chances. I think he is exactly what Rangers have been missing.

“I thought Jamie would have gone to Ibrox the last time that Rangers tried to sign him. I know Ally McCoist was keen to get him before he moved on to Sheffield United. Hopefully they can get a deal arranged to take him.”