Rangers have abandoned their pursuit to sign Mexican defender Jose Javier Abella this summer after talks, according to the Scottish Sun.
The report has revealed the Scottish giants will pursue other targets after manager Pedro Caixinha held negotiations about a move for three-time Mexico Under-20 international Abella.
This comes after Santos Laguna club president Alejandro Irarragorri told the Scottish Sun that Pedro Caixinha’s side were interested in signing the 23-year-old defender.
He said: “I talk a lot with Pedro Caixinha and he has good reason for taking the two Mexicans to Scottish football.
“And there is a player at Santos that interests him. We are in negotiations about him.”
Abella was in line to become the 54-time Scottish champions’ third Mexican signing, with Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera awaiting work permits to complete moves to Ibrox.
Caixinha is yet to bring a right-back to Glasgow, despite making four signings this summer in Ryan Jack, Bruno Alves, Dalcio and Fabio Cardoso.
Abella may have been identified as cover for first-choice right-back James Tavernier or even an improvement on the former Newcastle ace, but it now appears that a reunion between Caixinha and Abella will not materialise.
Santos Laguna’s number two was only on the fringes at Santos Laguna this season, making just 13 appearances in all competitions.
Since his debut with Caixinha’s old side in July 2013, Abella has gone on to make 133 senior appearances with the top-tier Mexican outfit and is now likely to add to that instead of joining Rangers.