Rangers transfer news: Jonathan Panzo tipped for Ibrox success as Michael Beale chases Nottingham Forest man
Jonathan Panzo has been tipped to seamlessly adapt to life in Scottish football if Rangers are successful in signing him this summer, by Dean Jones.
The Light Blues are thought to be leading the race for the Nottingham Forest defender, despite a delay since the Daily Record reported on 11 June that the club were getting closer to closing the deal.
A £2.5million fee has been mooted for Michael Beale to land the 22-year-old, with whom he has links from their time together at Chelsea, and Ross Wilson’s presence at Forest may prove useful, but Jones has no doubts Panzo would suit Ibrox.
The former Eurosport journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s certainly one they’ve looked at. He could be a good signing if Beale is able to allow him to grow as a player. He has underlying technical qualities that are pretty obvious.
“But obviously, he has a physicality about him too, which, I think, would mean he has no trouble dealing with this level of football at all.”
Positive
That verdict all sounds good as long as Rangers successfully get this deal over the line, which isn’t guaranteed when there is interest in Panzo from English and German clubs [Fabrizio Romano, 13 June].
The noises have largely been positive, and on the whole Beale has been successful in getting the players he wants so far with four already announced.
Jose Cifuentes was expected to have joined that number but his move appears to be proving more tricky, so the hope will be that Panzo’s doesn’t get bogged down as well.
But it is almost certain that the Gers come away disappointed from at least one chase this summer, so it remains to be seen who they miss out on.
Connor Goldson is pretty much guaranteed to start when fit, and John Souttar’s late-season performances were encouraging but his own fitness issues are well documented.
Ben Davies has the jury still out, and has been mooted to potentially leave after a season if the money is right, so a new centre-back would solidify Beale’s options, and it sounds like if he can land Panzo he will get a the kind of player who can make an impact.
In other Rangers news, another Ibrox veteran is considered almost certain to leave this summer now amid a clear verdict of “he’s away”.