Rangers-bound Josh Windass and Matt Crooks take to Twitter to express delight

The midfielders' deals with the League Two side expire at the end of the season so were free to negotiate pre-contracts with Gers.

Windass and Crooks made their way north on Wednesday for medicals and have now struck agreements to join in the summer, with both players taking to Twitter to express their delight.

"Long day but finally put pen to paper with @RangersFC and signed until 2020 .. Huge club with ambitions of European football," Windass said. "Can't wait"

Press Association Sport understands Windass' deal includes a £3.5million release clause.

Stanley team-mate Crooks posted: "what a difference a year makes..absolutely buzzing to sign for such a massive, ambitious club @RangersFC."

The question now is whether Rangers can arrange an early release for the players as sources close to the players have told Press Association Sport a £400,000 double swoop had been prepared.

Ibrox boss Mark Warburton is keen to see the pair join up with his squad right away as the Light Blues look to push ahead in the promotion race.

The timing of Windass - son of former Aberdeen and Hull striker Dean - and Crooks' move now hinges on Accrington owner Andy Holt.

He has already hit out at Gers' handling of the situation but faces losing both players for a compensation sum of around just £30,000 each should they move in the summer.

The Glasgow giants hope an increased fee will persuade the Sky Bet League Two side to release the players early, otherwise they will wait until their current deals expire.

However, Holt is furious his club is in danger of missing out on a potentially lucrative windfall, with cross-border compensation levels a fraction of the fees due between clubs in the same country.

"It's ridiculous," he told the Lancashire Telegraph. "We could lose them for free and Rangers could resell them and take any profit. They could sell them back to England if they wanted to.

"Because they're getting them for free they can offer wages that other team can't offer.

"It's not about the lads' rights to earn a living, I respect that and I like them. It's about what's right and what's wrong.

"They've come a long way at this club, since they've been at Accrington it's transformed them. I don't like the way the rules are set out.

"I don't like the way Rangers have gone about this, not picking the phone up to (Accrington manager) John Coleman. It's not illegal but it's not the way it should be done."

Windass, 21, was watched by Arsenal earlier this season and has netted 11 goals in 25 appearances for Accrington this term. Crooks, also 21, can play in defence as well as midfield and has seven goals to his name from 24 outings this season.

Warburton has made a swift start to his January transfer dealings after signing up Doncaster winger Harry Forrester and ex-Lech Poznan goalkeeper Maciej Gostomski on six-month deals.

Gers have also confirmed that they have extended Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem's loan stint at Ibrox until the end of the season.