Ibrox View: 3 transfers Rangers need to make in final hours
What started off as a quiet window that appeared to be focused on retaining players rather than adding them has sprung to life for Rangers.
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst wanted to ensure his league leaders were not significantly weakened, only sanctioning Nathan Patterson’s sale to Everton as he was not a first team regular, before adding James Sands on loan from the US.
But while transfer exits have been avoided, Ianis Hagi was lost for the season to injury, and an international call-up has deprived them of Alfredo Morelos just as Joe Aribo is set to return from his.
The exciting addition of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo on loan has helped soften the Hagi blow, but there is more work to be done before the window shuts so here Ibrox News looks at three transfers that need to be done in the final hours.
John Souttar – Hearts
The Scotland international defender has been secured already for a summer move on a free transfer, but Gers are known to want to bring him to Ibrox now to sure up the defence ahead of a crucial period.
Football Scotland reported that a £300,000 bid was rejected earlier in the window, and Craig Levein previously told BBC Sportsound, via Football Scotland, that the asking price was “more than double” that level.
Barry Ferguson wrote in his Daily Record column on Friday that the club should have around £3million to spend of the money brought in since December, so meeting the valuation for the Tynecastle man seems like a no-brainer.
He is an established SPFL performer who the Light Blues expect to be a fixture going forward, so getting him as soon as possible to help secure a title charge is a priority.
James McAtee – Manchester City
With the wide areas well stocked following the addition of Diallo, the emergence of teenage sensation Alex Lowry, and the form of Fashion Sakala, central attacking help in the midfield to support and cover for Aribo is next on the agenda.
According to the Daily Mail an approach was made already, and The Athletic report that a loan move for the highly-rated City prospect will only be sanctioned by Pep Guardiola if he first signs a “bumper” new contract at the Premier League leaders, and the move is to a club they trust.
Van Bronckhorst’s history is cited as putting Rangers in pole position for that reason, and could see the player who has scored 14 times in 15 Premier League 2 appearances this season move to Ibrox over Swansea or Girona.
Picking up a second highly rated youngster from Manchester would show serious intent as the club look to see off Celtic’s title challenge.
Danilo – Ajax
In the absence of December’s Player of the Month Morelos, The Light Blues laboured to a 1-0 win over Livingston last week thanks largely to the wide brilliance from Lowry and Sakala.
Cedric Itten was recalled from loan after Jermaine Defoe left, but has been unconvincing in his Ibrox career so far, so a forward option would be a good idea.
The Daily Record linked Ajax’s Danilo to a move as the manager arrived in December.
The 22-year-old Brazilian is reportedly free to leave the Dutch giants this month and is interesting Hull City according to The Hull Daily Mail.
His contract is up in the summer, so he is free to sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs, and potentially could be brought in now if the balance of the transfer budget were to be used after securing Souttar.
The forgotten man at the Amsterdam Arena, but age is on his side and a prolific top-flight loan to FC Twente only a year ago saw him score 17 times.
He should be proving a more popular target, especially after scoring four in a 9-0 Ajax cup win this month.
Gers’ Colombian main man told Sky Sports this week that he is happy in Glasgow despite near-constant speculation, with the Champions League his priority, but his form this season may well attract the attentions of clubs already playing in the competition so cover for that eventuality is also a consideration.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart has tipped this young Ibrox talent for a big future.