Rangers Plot Summer Move For This Emerging Centre-back: Why They Must Snap Him Up

Rangers Plot Summer Move For This Emerging Centre-back: Why They Must Snap Him Up

If a recent report from the Portuguese outletO Jogo is believed to be true, Rangers are keeping close tabs on Gilberto Batista ahead of a potential summer move. The Moreirense centre-back is valued at around £2.6m, but the Minho side are keen to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2027.

However, the Gers are not alone in the hunt, as the Black Knight Football Group could prefer a deal with Lorient or Bournemouth – the major European clubs they own. A decision has yet to be made on Batista’s future, and a transfer to Ibrox can’t be ruled out at this stage, considering their financial boost following last season’s Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers-led takeover.

The 22-year-old former Portugal youth international progressed through the academy ranks of Sporting CP before securing a regular role for their reserves as a teenager. He eventually joined Moreirense on a Bosman in the summer of 2023 and has since flourished for the top-flight outfit in the heart of the backline.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – APRIL 04: Danny Rohl, Head Coach of Rangers, looks on during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, 2025-26 has been the breakout season for the defender, who switched his allegiance to Guinea-Bissau last year and made his debut for the Dromedaries in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification fixture against Burkina Faso. So far, he has made 25 league appearances for Moreirense, and his towering presence in deep defence has helped the Green and Whites climb up to seventh in the Primeira Liga standings.