Rangers lead race for Jonathan Panzo transfer after ‘positive’ Michael Beale talks amid Nottingham Forest link
Jonathan Panzo has had “positive dialogue” with Michael Beale and Rangers lead the race to sign the defender, according to Euan Robertson.
The Gers have been linked to the Nottingham Forest centre-back, who spent last season on loan at Coventry City, for months [Daily Record, 22 March] and were reported to be near to signing the 22-year-old ahead of West Brom and the Sky Blues [Daily Record, 11 June].
However there has been “no progression” now for a few days, but the Light Blues remain well placed to do a deal, especially owing to Beale and Panzo’s time together at Chelsea and the presence of Ross Wilson at Forest says Robertson.
Speaking on the Rangers Review YouTube channel on Tuesday (13 June, 12m 10s) Robertson provided the latest: “Rangers’ interest is genuine in Panzo, it has been for some time.
“There has been dialogue between the player and Michael Beale is my understanding, they have had positive dialogue… it’s just a case of a kind of waiting game now.
“There’s been no progression really in the last few days on the Panzo front, but if the money’s there to do the deal the deal can be done.
“He’s obviously got other options from clubs in the English Championship but I think Rangers a probably leading the race to sign him, certainly.”
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The personal links via Beale and Wilson would certainly seem to make this a move that the Light Blues have the inside track on.
With Sam Lammers widely expected to now be the next arrival at Ibrox this summer it may be that focus on the Dutchman’s signing has taken precedence in the past few days.
But the manager’s hands-on approach to the transfer business, which has increased since Wilson’s exit to the City Ground on 14 April [Sky Sports], appears to have paid dividends so far with the pace of business.
If he has now had direct talks with Panzo over a move, and has a connection to the young defender from his youth at Cobham, then there is logically every chance this deal gets over the line.
West Brom’s financial issues surely make them one of the few English sides in the top two tiers who aren’t a major financial threat currently.
But if Viktor Gyokeres is sold for big money by Coventry they may be able to blow Rangers out of the water, so it would be of benefit if Beale can push this one through before concrete developments on the Swedish striker.
In other Rangers news, the manager is ready to sign off on a multimillion pound exit for “significant profit” this summer.