Rangers and the Striker Dilemma

Photo by Winston Tjia on Unsplash

 

Rangers have had a fascinating last couple of decades that have included the lows of financial instability that saw them cast to the bottom of the Scottish pyramid system, and battling back to obliterate Celtic’s hopes of a historic 10-in-a-row.

 

The club has also featured in two European finals and has performed admirably in the Europa League against clubs with significantly greater financial backing. The club’s recent focus has been on trying to compete domestically, and things could be on the brink of finally coming together for the Glasgow giants.

 

A takeover by 49ers Enterprises has been massive news for the club’s global fanbase, not least the many Rangers support clubs across the US. Rangers fans across the world have proven to be some of the most loyal, and those exploring the local California, New York, or Florida sports betting market will find that a settled Celtic side is the odds-on favorite to retain their title next season, with Rangers the 9/4 second favorite.

 

New manager Russel Martin has a tough job ahead of him. He has already welcomed Max Aarons, Lyall Cameron, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, Thelo Aasgaard, and Oscar Cortes to the club. Still, the front line has been where most of the transfer rumors have been happening.

 

Last season’s top SPL goal scorer Cyriel Dessers has faced criticism during his Ibrox career, but 51 goals and 15 assists in 109 games is a good return for the Nigeria international, and composed finishes in Europe have resulted in interest. Greek side AEK Athens have already had a bid rejected, with Martin saying it fell short of their £6 million ($8.1 million) valuation, but they are expected to return to the negotiating table.

 

Another name being linked with a move from Ibrox is the Moroccan international Hamza Igamane. The 22-year-old forward impressed in his first season in European football, and French side Lille have been strongly linked with a move for the player that could see Rangers make a massive profit on a talented young striker.

 

Should Rangers lose Igamane and Dessers, they will be left with Brazilian Danilo, who has suffered injury problems during his time in Scotland. Russel Martin and his backroom staff have been working hard to identify new targets to strengthen the squad, and fans are hopeful that some deals can be agreed before the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on July 22nd.

 

One player to have been linked with a move to Rangers and is no stranger to the SPL, is former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski, who currently plays with Girona in Spain. With his strong track record in Scotland, the striker would be able to hit the ground running, but his relationship with former club Aberdeen could limit the chance of a move to Ibrox.

 

Rangers had previously spoken of a need to explore getting players in that they will be able to make a profit on, with Igamane proving to be a great example of this. Another player who could fall into this category is 21-year-old Israeli forward Dor Turgeman. The Maccabi Tel Aviv striker has netted 31 times in the last two seasons, breaking into the international team in the process.

 

He is not the only player from Tel Aviv being linked with a move to Scotland, with teammate Weslley Patati also attracting interest.

 

Rangers have a good history when it comes to recruiting Croatian strikers with Dado Prso and Nikica Jelevic both proving to be fantastic additions. The latest Croat forward on their radar is £5 million-rated Matija Frigan, who plays in Belgium with K.V.C. Westerlo. Rangers appear to have competition for his signature from Hull City for the 22-year-old goal scorer.

 

While bringing in younger strikers with the potential to rise in value is a good long-term model for the club to adopt, there is no doubt about the urgency to bring in players that can make a difference immediately, and two veteran strikers are being strongly linked with the club.

 

Jamie Vardy is an undoubted Leicester and Premier League legend. The 38-year-old striker still has something to offer despite his age, and his ability to score goals is something that could see him earn a short contract with Rangers.

 

Another player who could bring his experience to Rangers is Netherlands striker Luuk de Jong. The 6ft 2″, 34-year-old managed 14 goals and 8 assists in the Eredivisie for PSV last season, and the former Newcastle and Barcelona loanee could be a good fit in the Scottish game because of his physicality.

 

At present, Russel Martin still has Igamane and Dessers at his disposal, but with a strong interest in the two forwards, he could be left with a dilemma if the two move on. Rangers is a football club that demands success, and the new owners will be keen to get the club back to where they belong, the top of Scottish football.