Rangers handed huge Champions League boost as silence broken on £7.5m deal

Šulc, who is a Czech internationalist, is on the verge of completing a £7.5 million move to French Ligue 1 side Lyon and will not be part of the Plzen squad that is travelling to Ibrox on Monday.

The 24-year-old has been capped 12 times by Czechia and has scored four goals for the national team. He came through the youth ranks at Viktoria Plzen and has made close to 150 senior appearances for the club.

While Plzen have not confirmed the destination of his move, it is understood the player is in advanced negotiations with Lyon.

Šulc played the full 90 minutes against Servette last week, being one of the team’s key players as they overcame a two-goal deficit midway through the second qualifying round tie.

A statement posted by Viktoria Plzen read: “Viktoria Plzen are flying to Glasgow today, where they will face the opening match of the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League against Rangers FC there tomorrow. Midfielder Pavel Šulc will no longer be on board the special flight, as his transfer abroad is being finalized.”

The club’s chairman Adolf Šádek added: “Pavel Šulc is no longer in coach Miroslav Koubek's nomination for tomorrow's match against Rangers FC. For this reason, he will not travel to Scotland with the team today.

“Pavel has received the green light from the club to transfer abroad. All the necessary details, including a medical examination, are being finalized in these hours. If everything goes well, he will transfer to a renowned European club.”