The bid to snare the Palermo hero looked to be on the rocks after Rangers admitted they had failed to hear anything back from the Serie A club.

Palermo had been touring Germany and didn't respond for days to Rangers' enquiries about the availability of the star.

Fulham and Blackburn Rovers had also been linked with the star and Aston Villa joined the list of interested parties over the weekend.

Palermo are still rumoured to be holding out for a $23 million offer for Bresciano but may settle for Rangers offer as soon as today.

Reports in Italy have estimated the Scots to be offering $17 million, but a more likely sum would be around half that figure.

Bresciano and his representatives are understood to have flown to Scotland to seal the deal with Rangers while the offer stands.

He almost moved to Manchester City in the English Premier League a year ago until a row over City's proposed $10 million payment plan scuppered the deal.

This time though, Rangers were cashed up following the sale of Carlos Cuellar to Aston Villa earlier this month for almost $20 million.

Rangers have already filled the gap in their defence created by Cuellar's exit but are now looking to revamp their midfield, centred around Bresciano.

Bresciano's Socceroo team-mate Scott McDonald has already proved a huge hit in the SPL, scoring 31 goals for Rangers arch-rival, Celtic, last season.