By Doug Ward

20th May, 2021 | 3:23pm

Rangers make approach for Nimes star Zinedine Ferhat

Rangers have already started their recruitment process for this summer with Fashion Sakala and Nnamdi Ofoborh both set to join with pre-contracts already agreed.

However, it seems really unlikely that the Gers’ summer improvements are over with it only being May and the fact that we’re still expecting a couple of sales.

Earlier this season, Stewart Robertson admitted that the Light Blues will have to start selling one or two players every summer in order to offset losses [FourFourTwo] and while that’s a shame, we understand that’s how it’s going to have to work going forward so the club’s financial operation runs smoothly.

And while we’re yet to see anything concrete about players who might leave Ibrox, there have been plenty of links to potential new arrivals in Govan.

One player that’s really excited us in the last few days is Nimes winger Zinedine Ferhat, who’s scored six goals and supplied 10 assists in 33 appearances this season as his club suffered relegation from Ligue 1.

While we wouldn’t always be too thrilled about signing a player who’s been relegated, there’s no denying that Ferhat, 28, has stood out among the crowd at Nimes this season and has been one of the more exciting wingers in the French top-flight.

According to The 4th Official, Rangers have made an approach to sign the Algeria international in the summer transfer window.

The blog, which has previously been accurate in reports about the Premiership champions, reports that they approached a source at Nimes, which has detailed to them that “Rangers have definitely made an approach for Ferhat” but it would take a “substantial offer to get him”.

FootMercato has previously reported the Gers are interested in the winger but it seems that interest is far more concrete than originally suggested with contact made between the Scottish and French clubs.

What can Ferhat offer for Rangers?

He’s primarily a right-sided winger who has also been able to slot in on the left.

Stats by Wyscout show the former Le Havre attacker has completed 44.8 per cent of dribbles, 38.1 per cent of crosses and hit the target with 38.6 per cent of his shots in Ligue 1 this term.

Ferhat has also averaged 1.31 shot assists, 2.59 touches inside the penalty area, 2.65 progressive runs and 0.18 expected assists per 90 minutes in France’s top-flight.

Wyscout reports that only Lyon’s Memphis Depay has assisted more goals in Ligue 1 than Ferhat this season while the Nimes winger also ranks joint-sixth with Neymar for fouls suffered, joint-sixth also with Neymar for key passes, seventh for one-v-one dribbles, seventh for progressive runs and 14th for crosses.

It’s fair to say that he’s been one of the stand-out wingers in France’s top-flight, matching Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar in a couple of categories.

Ferhat is clearly an exciting talent that will no doubt get fans out of their seats at Ibrox next season should he touch down in Glasgow.

It’s still early days but really hope this is a deal Steven Gerrard and Ross Wilson can pull off.

In other Rangers news, this Times journalist is baffled by what he’s seen about the Gers squad and Police Scotland.