Filip Helander is in talks to return to Sweden with first club Malmo after he was told he will be released from the Ibrox side.

The 30-year-old defender hasn't played for over a year since a match against St Mirren last April after suffering a foot injury and manager Michael Beale described his injury as a 'unique situation about bone structure in his foot.'

It was announced he would be released at the end of the season this week and Malmo are desperate to persuade him to come back to his home city and to the club where he started his career.

The club's sporting director Daniel Andersson said: "Of course, we have had contact with him.

"Right now he is doing rehab training after his injury and the most important thing is that he gets fit and healthy."

Helander made just 35 league starts for Rangers after a £3.5 million from Bologna four years ago and netted an Old Firm winner in a 1-0 victory in August 2021.

He first signed for Malmo 12 years ago and spent four years with them before going to Italy to play for Verona and Bologna.

Scott Arfield is another who will be leaving Rangers this summer and Michael Beale admits his departure departure “pulls at the heartstrings”.

Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos, winger Ryan Kent and veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor will also be leaving.

The Govan club also announced that veteran midfielder Steven Davis – another player soon to be out of contract – “remains in discussions to continue working with the club’s medical team to support his return to full fitness following a long-term ACL injury suffered in December 2022”.

Midfielder Arfield, 34, has become a fans’ favourite since signing from Burnley in 2018, although he has found regular starts hard to come by recently.

Ahead of the final home cinch Premiership game of the season against Hearts on Wednesday night, where the players leaving will be given the chance to say their goodbyes, Beale spoke about Arfield in the most glowing terms.

“Scotty Arfield – it pulls on the heartstrings, big time,” he said. “As a man and as a person, he has been absolutely fantastic around the place.

“He is adored by the fans as well, not only (by) his team-mates and staff.

“That was a real amicable conversation between the two of us over the last couple of months around playing time, how the squad will look and what Scott needs moving forward as well.

“You have to live the reality. He is a key player and gives a lot of energy to the building and his team-mates, but he needs to feel he will be involved and play from the start or have a significant involvement, and I can’t promise him that.

“A difficult decision to come to, but I think it is right for all parties.”