Moving in the opposite direction is Jerome Thomas who has joined Pompey on a season-long loan from Charlton.

Mendes is currently discussing terms in Glasgow and his two-and-a-half year spell at Fratton Park appears to be nearing its end.

Rangers currently have cash to spend following the £7.8million departure of Carlos Cuellar to Aston Villa earlier this week.

mfl

Thomas moves to Fratton Park as manager Harry Redknapp finally ends his search for a winger.

Redknapp had been linked with Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips but instead he has recruited the former Arsenal trainee.

The 25-year-old joined Charlton in February 2004 for £100,000 and his arrival marks a busy summer for the south coast club.

While Peter Crouch was the big money arrival from Liverpool, Thomas joins fellow forwards Glen Little, from Reading, and Ben Sahar - on loan from Chelsea - as well as defender Younes Kaboul.

(re-opens)

Rangers boss Walter Smith was hopeful of completing the capture of Mendes, revealing the midfielder will be in the squad for tomorrow`s Clydesdale Bank Premier League game with Hearts if he is registered in time.

Smith said: "We are hopeful the signing will go through. He is currently taking a medical and we don`t envisage any problems.

"He is a really good all-round midfield player and he will help us a lot.

"He`s very good technically and I hope he will come and improve us.

"He can get a goal or two as well, so if all goes well, he will be a good acquisition for us."