Property developer Andrew Ellis, the former QPR director, could be close to sealing a Rangers takeover today.

The Sunday Mail says the 41-year-old is the real deal after passing the litmus test Sir David Murray vowed to run over any buyer.

The former chairman, selling up after 21 years at the helm, has always insisted he would never pass the Ibrox institution into the hands of anyone he felt wasn't right to run it.

Ellis has satisfied Murray and the Lloyds Banking group with his outline proposals over the past few weeks.

Which means that not only is the cash there to buy the bulk of Murray's majority shareholding - the steel magnate will keep a minor stake - and deal with the debt due to Lloyds, but that there's investment planned to follow the takeover.