RANGERS have pulled out of the running to sign Jake Hastie after becoming frustrated in their pursuit of the Motherwell forward.

The Ibrox club made a move to sign the 20-year-old on a pre-contract deal last month and had agreed a switch to bring the highly-rated wide man to Ibrox at the end of the season.

But Herald Sport understands Rangers will now pursue other options this summer after ending their interest in Hastie as the transfer has dragged on in recent weeks.

The winger has been attracting interest from several English clubs but could now make a shock move to Major League Soccer and join Frank de Boer's Atlanta United.

Hastie has quickly risen to prominence since returning from a loan spell at Alloa and Motherwell put a new contract on the table in an attempt to keep him at Fir Park.

The Steelmen are resigned to losing one of their brightest young talents but Hastie, who has scored six goals in the second half of the season, is now unlikely to join Rangers despite earlier seeming set for an Ibrox deal.

Manager Steven Gerrard has not given up hope of retaining the services of Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, while a move for Greg Stewart, currently on loan at Aberdeen, is also under consideration.