Derek McInnes wants Rangers to sign Hearts star Claudio Braga this summer

Rangers coach Danny Rohl has agreed a deal to take over the position at RB Salzburg, while Hearts coach Derek McInnes is in the running to replace the German at Ibrox.

The Rangers board publicly backed Rohl after four league defeats in a row ended their title challenge and raised doubts among German fans.

The former Sheffield Wednesday manager has brought Rangers back into contention for the William Hill Premiership title after a slow start to the season under Russell Martin.

But their post-split collapse – coupled with two cup defeats to Martin O’Neill’s Celtic – left Rohl needing to prove he belonged at Rangers.

Rohl has previously worked in the Red Bull stable, starting his coaching career under Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig and working as assistant to Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Fabrizio Romano revealed at the weekend that the Gers are close to finding a replacement, it is ‘done’ and only the formalities remain to be completed.

McInnes, a young Rangers fan, turned down the chance to manage the Ibrox club while in charge of Aberdeen in 2017.

The 54-year-old, who was controversially linked with the Gers position last October, has been at Hearts for over a year after moving from Kilmarnock.

Most of the Rangers team is expected to report for pre-season games on June 22, as their Premiership campaign will begin on the first weekend of August.

Lawrence Shankland has already left Tynecastle this summer, and McInnes may not be the last to arrive.

Rangers are looking at the contract of Hearts star Braga

Indeed, McInnes is keen to bring Claudio Braga to Ibrox too, fending off interest from rivals Celtic, Football FanCast sources understand.

The Hoops have been linked with Braga for months, but the incoming manager hopes to take on both Rangers’ title rivals by snapping up the Portuguese striker.

It would be a serious statement for the Gers if they could poach one of their rivals’ best players, but he won’t come cheap.

Hearts rejected offers in the region of £5m for their star man in January, and it is felt they will be looking for £8-10m to offload him this summer.

Rangers’ transfer fee is up to £12m, but there is reason to believe the 26-year-old is worth pushing the boat.

Braga has excelled in all attacking positions on the pitch for Hearts this season, playing up front, on both wings and behind the striker as a number ten, scoring 17 times and providing six assists.