Bookmakers have slashed the odds on Rangers signing Norwich striker Steven Naismith this summer.
Rangers’ odds on recapturing Naismith have shortened on Monday morning to evens, and the gap between the club and their nearest rival in the race has also stretched.
The betting company had priced Sunderland at 3/1 to sign the Scotland international 10 days ago and, although the north-east club remain second favourites, they are now a relatively distant 6/1.
Hull City are third placed at 12/1, while Burnley are 16/1 and Middlesbrough have drifted to 25/1.
The strong likelihood of Naismith moving back to Ibrox five years after his exit comes as the club prepare to make what are expected to be substantial changes to their front line this summer.
It has been widely reported that manager Pedro Caixinha has sanctioned a deal to sign Mexican striker Eduardo Herrera for a fee of £1.5million as his overhaul of the Rangers squad continues.
Kenny Miller was the only Rangers forward to score more than 10 league goals in the 2016-17 campaign, with his haul of 11 paling in comparison with the top men in the Scottish Premiership such as Ross County’s Liam Boyce (23) and Celtic duo Scott Sinclair (21) and Moussa Dembele (17).
Naismith has two years remaining on the Norwich contract that he signed when he joined from Everton in January of last year for a fee of £9million.
The 45-times Scotland international spent five years at Ibrox from 2007 to 2012, scoring 33 goals and supplying 30 assists during 132 appearances in all competitions.
He joined Everton on a free transfer when Rangers went into administration and made a big impression for the Premier League club, scoring 26 goals in 123 matches, including a memorable hat-trick against Chelsea.
Naismith was a mainstay for Norwich in the recently completed season, scoring seven goals and supplying three assists in 32 matches in all competitions.