Philippe Clement has become the next Rangers manager as the Ibrox board get set to confirm his appointment. 

Chairman John Bennett and James Bisgrove, the chief executive officer, spent several days in London holding discussions with potential candidates to land the top job.

And The Rangers Review understands that Clement has now been selected as the preferred choice to succeed Michael Beale as Bennett and Bisgrove seek to clinch the Belgian’s signature.

READ MORE: Philippe Clement: Rangers manager candidate assessed by Thomas Buffel

Former Ibrox defender Kevin Muscat was also under serious consideration after reaching the final stage of the process but he has missed out on a return to the club where he won the treble in 2003.

Clement is set to be unveiled in a press conference in the Blue Room in the coming days after agreeing terms to become the 19th manager in Rangers’ history.

The Rangers Review revealed that Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard had been ruled out of the running after holding initial discussions with Rangers and Ibrox legend Graeme Souness.

The likes of Scott Parker and Pascal Jansen, the AZ Alkmaar manager, were also touted as potential candidates, while former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner was overlooked despite making it clear he would be interested in a move to Scotland.

READ MORE: Rangers managerial appointment: Bisgrove and Bennett's task in focus

It is Clement - a former Belgian internationalist - that is now set to make that switch as he closes in on a move that will see him replace Beale in time to make his dugout debut for the visit of Hibernian next weekend.

The 49-year-old has been out of work since leaving Monaco in June but he has three Belgian Pro League titles to his credit after leading Club Brugge to successive triumphs on the back of his glory with Genk four years ago.

Clement will inherit a Rangers side that are seven points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership after their 3-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday kept them within sight of their Old Firm rivals.

That fixture will prove to be the last one in charge for interim manager Steven Davis after he replaced Beale and oversaw the Europa League defeat away to Aris Limassol.