Jordan Campbell – Rangers move for Olsen ‘unlikely’
The prospect of Rangers signing Bologna winger Andreas Skov Olsen during the transfer window is “unlikely”, reports The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell.
The journalist believes that while a fee of around £7.5million would be enough to tempt the Serie A side, it would be too much to spend currently despite the sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton.
In addition, the Denmark international’s status for his national side would potentially be at risk were he to leave one of Europe’s top leagues for the Scottish Premiership with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon.
Campbell says: “Bologna winger Andreas Skov Olsen would represent a major coup but it is understood that a move would be unlikely at this stage.”
He adds: “A move to Scotland would see him become a big fish in a small pond where he could dominate games and enjoy the sort of adulation his countryman Brian Laudrup experienced, but it would be a risky move to drop down a level.”
Risk worth taking?
The news will come as a disappointment to Rangers fans excited by the potential for what Campbell admits would be a “massive coup” in signing the Dane.
With Giovanni Van Bronckhorst is believed to be interested in the winger to add more width to his squad, and a recent report from Italy that a bid had been made [Tutto Bologna Web], the news that it is unlikely to be a success will dampen some spirits around Glasgow.
With the income from the club-record sale of Patterson it will come as a frustration that funds are not immediately available, but with as much as a quarter of the reported £16million fee [Sky Sports] constituting add-ons and so many transfers involving installments it is rarely so straight forward.
But a move of some sort, potentially on loan with an option to buy in the summer, would surely make sense despite Olsen’s apparent reservations about the quality of the league.
After all, he has found his time in Italy a struggle and has made a large number of appearances off the bench, in comparison to his final season at Nordsjaelland where he earned his move with 26 goals in all competitions.
A return to such form in a league which has not stopped other players at Ibrox gaining international caps would surely maintain the attention of his national coach while improving his confidence personally.
With a winter World Cup this year, if Olsen’s reluctance to move to Scotland ahead of the tournament is strong, Gers would likely remain frustrated in the summer also.
In other Rangers news, this transfer target wants to quit his current club this month.