Rangers have £2.2m option on Esclapez as Balague backs him

will have to stump up around £2.2million if they want to turn Aaron Niguez Esclapez's loan move from Valencia into a permanent one.

That figure has been set for the end of the current two-year loan agreement with the Spanish club for their talented youth international.

Aaron, 19, arrived in Glasgow yesterday and manager Walter Smith is delighted with the recruitment of the attacking midfielder, while he pursues other targets including Palermo's Mark Bresciano.

One for the future: Aaron arrived on Thursday and Mendes may well be the next new recruit at Ibrox

'We are very pleased to land the lad because he has a fantastic pedigree and we hope he can bring us something different,' said Smith.

'He has played at a very high level with the Spanish youth teams and also been involved with the Champions League a few years ago.

'He is just 19, so he will need some time to settle here. But he did that quickly in Greece last season when out on loan and we have been aware of him for some time.

'We have injuries to Chris Burke and Steven Naismith, so getting someone in for the wider areas is important. He will be involved with our first-team squad.'

Rangers fans may know little about Aaron's abilities but Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes he can develop into an exciting talent similar to former Liverpool favourite Luis Garcia.

Balague has been aware of Aaron since he first emerged as a key component of Spain's successful Under-17 squad and believes Smith has selected wisely in his bid to inject greater flair into the Ibrox squad. 

'He was talked about three years ago as an exciting prospect and I have seen him playing in the Spanish youth teams since then,' Balague said.

'Aaron played a role for those teams that we call a " false forward". He played behind the main striker and went across the field to link midfield and attack. He is very clever in that position and will be useful for Rangers.

'He can play in a similar role to the one Luis Garcia did for Liverpool. That is possibly the best comparison. He might not score as many goals but he can be creative in the same way.

'If Rangers are looking for someone to help link up their play, he fits the bill. The fans will have to be a little patient with him because the Scottish game is very different but he definitely has talent.'

The fact Valencia have already set a sizeable fee for Aaron's permanent signature is another indicator of their regard for his potential.

He played for the club in the Champions League aged 17, but some will ask why the La Liga outfit have been willing to let him go.

'The problem for Aaron at Valencia was that there are so many players who can fill his role,' added Balague. 'They have David Silva, a star of the Euro 2008 team, but even if they sell him this summer, they have two or three others already in their first-team squad. Aaron wasn't going to play, so it's not a bad idea all round for him to go to a club as demanding as Rangers'.

With Marc Crosas joining Celtic from Barcelona last week, the Old Firm now have two highly-rated Spanish prospects pitted in direct opposition.

Balague feels moving to Glasgow has become an increasingly attractive prospect for Iberian youngsters, with Carlos Cuellar's £8m switch to Aston Villa proving the SPL can provide a gateway to England's riches.

'These deals appeal to players because Rangers and Celtic will pay good money,' said the pundit. 'But, more importantly, there is now an established route of others who have gone before and made a real success.

'In the case of Marc Crosas, he's probably about the No5 Spanish player of that age group in his position. But, in Scotland, he can make an instant impact in the way Mikel Arteta did for Rangers. These kinds of players are not produced in Scotland and he will excite the supporters.

'If you go to Rangers or Celtic, you have the chance of winning titles straight away. That is very attractive to players who have been on the fringes of big Spanish clubs.

'They gain a new profile. They can either set their sights on going back to a big club in Spain or rising in the British game. That can't be underestimated. Succeeding in Scotland opens the door to England and the lure of that league is huge.'