Rangers: Lassana Coulibaly & Sadiq Umar join Steven Gerrard's team

Lassana Coulibaly has become Rangers' eighth signing of the summer

Mali midfielder Lassana Coulibaly and Nigeria striker Sadiq Umar have become Steven Gerrard's eighth and ninth signings as Rangers manager.

Both have joined the Ibrox club on season-long loan deals, subject to international clearance.

Capped nine times, 22-year-old Coulibaly arrives from Angers in the French top flight.

Umar, 21, has been loaned out by Roma, having spent time with Dutch outfit NAC Breda on loan last season.

Coulibaly was worried he was the victim of a prank call when Gerrard phoned him to discuss a move to Ibrox.

He joined Angers in 2015 from fellow French team Bastia and has made 48 appearances for the club.

"He asked me if I wanted to join his team, and I said yes, although I was worried it wasn't actually Gerrard [on the phone]!" Coulibaly told Rangers TV.

"I'm very happy to be here.

"When my agent said that Gerrard is the head coach, I said, OK, no problem, and then I was happy to come and join this team.

"He can help me to develop my football. When he was at Liverpool, I grew up watching him.

"Rangers is a good team, I'd heard the name before Gerrard came in here. I don't watch the league, but I know about Celtic and Rangers in Scotland.

"I play midfield, I'm strong and physical and I can get the ball from the opponent for my team."

Umar was a member of the Nigeria squad that earned bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Umar spent the latter half of last season on loan with Dutch top-flight club NAC Breda

After joining Roma in 2015, he was loaned out to Bologna and Torino, and scored five goals in 12 outings during his six-month stint in the Dutch Eredivisie last term.

Umar has amassed six appearances for his parent club, netting twice.

"Gerrard told me about the team, the players, he said everyone will help me if I came here and he will help me go forward in my career, and you don't have to think twice when someone says that to you," Umar said.

The African pair follow veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor, full-back Jon Flanagan, centre-backs Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, midfielders Scott Arfield and Ovie Ejaria, and winger Jamie Murphy - on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell - in joining Rangers.