Rangers battle Celtic for Cho Gue-Sung despite key element to Old Firm transfer race
Celtic are in a “very strong position” to win the race for Jeonbuk striker Cho Gue-Sung with Rangers playing catch-up, according to Mark Hendry.
Not only have Ange Postecoglou’s already made a £3million bid, as reported by Football Scotland on Monday (9 January), but have been engaged in negotiations for some time.
There is, as yet, no official offer from Ibrox who will also be behind on the timeline in terms of communications with technical director Park Ji-Sung over a January move for a player, who Football Scotland believe is likely to move to Europe this month, which is seen as a crucial element to the head-to-head between the Glasgow rivals.
Posting on his Twitter account on Monday night (9 January) the Football Scotland deputy editor wrote: “Key element to note is RangersFC have not yet made concrete bid while CelticFC have been in negotiations for a while.
“Hoops still in very strong position.”
Behind
If the Gers haven’t yet opened talks with the Korean side then they are going to need to do so immediately if they harbour genuine hopes of beating Celtic to the 24-year-old.
The groundwork has been laid by the Bhoys and it will take some extremely fast work, and no doubt a bid of £3million or more, to get to the table quick enough to have a say.
Michael Beale’s arrival at Rangers has changed the landscape and the chance to join a new project, which has shown positive signs already, could entice a player.
But this transfer race is following a similar dynamic as the title race itself with Celtic in the ascendency and the Light Blues looking to put the pressure on from a position of disadvantage.
They did that in the Old Firm derby on 2 January, but despite giving Postecoglou’s men a scare they weren’t able to come out on top, so it is going to take an extra effort to change that dynamic in the race for Cho.
The international striker’s two goals for his country in the 3-2 defeat to Ghana at the World Cup (28 November) proved crucial to their qualification to the knockout rounds on goal difference.
In other Rangers news, the club have been told they will need to break the bank to sign a key man from a rival SPFL side.