By Daniel Feliciano

15th May, 2023 | 5:10pm

Aris FC sporting director confirms Rangers interest in Luis Palma as Michael Beale looks to close £4.4m transfer

Aris FC sporting director Robert Palikuca has confirmed that Rangers are in the race to sign Luis Palma, but insists they’re not the only ones.

Honduran winger Palma has emerged as a target for Michael Beale’s side in a £4.4m deal as the boss looks to replace Ryan Kent who is set to leave the club at the end of his contract.

The club have reportedly already opened talks with his agents, but while Palikuca has admitted that the Greek club are open to a sale this summer he has been clear that Rangers do not have a clear run at the player.

“We will consider our options, if an offer comes in that is up to our standards, then a sale will take place,” he said, as quoted by Deportes TVC (15 May).

“He is a player with a lot of room for development, he is not [the] finished [article].

“Only Rangers interested? There is also interest from American teams, very strong financially, as well as European teams.”

Positive

Rangers are going to have money to spend this summer because there will be plenty of people leaving, and the club are already making moves in the window.

With Kent all but gone at this point, the club know that replacing him is going to be one of the priorities of the window and that means getting deals done early.

If Palma has been identified by Beale and Rangers as someone that can do the job to replace him and bring that flair, speed and quality up front then the board simply have to deliver it.

It’s likely to be some sort of negotiating ploy from Aris too to drive the price up and get Rangers to react quickly, but they simply have to do it.

If the club risk losing out on a top target during such a busy summer with so much work needing to be done, then they risk the wrath of the fans.

In other Rangers news, one star could join Ryan Kent at a European club after his Ibrox exit was confirmed.