RANGERS are on the verge of signing Marius Zaliukas, the former Hearts captain, after the Lithuanian defender joined the Ibrox club for training yesterday with a move to be sealed today.

Zaliukas is to be released by current side Leeds United after he was left out of their pre-season tour of Italy and he will sign for Ally McCoist's side almost a year after a deal to join them broke down.

The centre-back spent nearly seven years at Tynecastle before he was released last summer when the Edinburgh side entered administration, and he looked destined for to join the Ibrox side in SPFL League 1 last September.

That move never happened and Zaliukas took the opportunity to go on trial at Queens Park Rangers. After they stalled on a deal he joined Leeds and played 15 times last season.

The Ibrox club, who have already signed Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd this summer, contacted Zaliukas' representatives last week on learning he was frozen out at Elland Road and a move to Rangers is now very much on.