Warburton set to clinch deal for

MARK Warburton will enrich his squad by completing a loan deal for exciting Arsenal prospect Gedion Zelalem in the next 24 hours but insists the spat with Alan Stubbs over the spending power of Rangers will have no bearing on tomorrow’s showdown with Hibernian.

Zelalem, just 18, is being tipped to burst into the Arsenal first team next season having already had a taste of Champions League football with the Gunners last November.

Warburton is delighted Arsene Wenger has trusted him to continue the development of the midfielder who was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents but was brought up in the USA and has committed to their international set-up. Zelalem joins recently-recruited Tottenham pair Nathan Oduwa and Dominic Ball but he will not be involved tomorrow against Hibs – even if the paperwork is completed.

Warburton said: “Any player coming to the squad needs a chance to get to know the squad and them to know him so he’s not for this Sunday.

“He’s a very talented ball player. He sees a pass, he’s very creative and one of the young gems at Arsenal.

“In my mind he will be a permanent first-team player in the future.

“His development will continue up here. Ibrox is a big plus point. Playing in front of 50,000 will be great for his development.

“We have to make sure that we replicate playing for Arsenal as close