Rangers offered chance to sign centre-back outcast from Saudi Arabia – report
Rangers have joined the list of teams pursuing the signature of former West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazy, according to TEAMtalk.
Since making his loan move to Saudi Arabia from West Brom permanent in the summer of 2021, Hegazy has made over 50 appearances for Al Ittihad but has recently found himself as an outsider to the squad following a tough injury and influx of overseas players.
TEAMtalk reported on Thursday (30 November) that Burnley, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Cardiff are all monitoring the situation, while Hegazy has been offered to Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
At the backend of last season, the central defender suffered an ACL injury, which kept him on the sidelines for six months.
While his current contract runs until 2026, Hegazy has been left out of their league squad until the turn of the New Year and could be allowed to leave on a free transfer.
A needed addition to the squad?
Philippe Clement’s current centre-back situation is a tricky one. Leon Balogun and Connor Goldson are the go-to partnership in defence, while John Souttar and Ben Davies are used as rotational players.
With an injury or suspension, the circumstances in defence could quickly become chaotic. But is Hegazy really the answer to that problem?
Hegazy’s CV speaks for itself, helping Al Ittihad to their first league title since 2009, becoming Egyptian Champions twice with El Ahly, and defending resolutely in tough seasons in the Premier League and Championship with West Brom.
It may be that Rangers could get the veteran for a very cheap price, with Al Ittihad happy to let him go, but his recent injury record as a 32-year-old is something to be wary about, just like his current club is.
It also appears that Clement could begin to integrate more youngsters from the club’s academy into the first team, which would cover any eventualities in the defending department.
In other Rangers news, Peter Grant has described Tom Lawrence as a new signing for Clement at Ibrox.