Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha’s move for Vitoria de Setubal defender Fabio Cardoso is on the ropes amid interest from Wolves, according to a Daily Record report.
The newspaper claims the 23-year-old is “in line” to join Wanderers after Nuno Espirito Santo took the reins at the club, following Paul Lambert’s departure.
It is said super-agent Jorge Mendes recommended Santo to Wolves’ Chinese owners to become their next boss and his arrival at the Black Country club was announced on their official website on Wednesday afternoon.
The report states Mendes also “handles Cardoso’s affairs”, so he is “likely” to join Santo if he is appointed manager at Molineux.
This will come as a blow to Rangers, as it was previously reported by the Daily Mail that Rangers were targeting the 23-year-old as Caixinha looks to overhaul his squad this summer.
Vitoria manager Jose Couceiro even claimed if the Gers came in for the young centre-back he would be powerless to preventing the move happening.
Cardoso has been a mainstay of his club’s back line this term, making 27 appearances in all competitions.
He joined the club in the summer of 2016 on a free transfer from Benfica B, where he spent three seasons, playing more than 50 league and cup games.
The 23-year-old has also been capped four times by Portugal Under-20s, and featured in the Under-21s squad, but he never made an appearance for the side.