Josh Doig deal set to be closed Friday night in race for Rangers January transfer target amid Ridvan Yilmaz exit update – Sky Sports
Marseille are expecting to close a deal worth a maximum of £4.3million to sign Rangers target Josh Doig by Friday night (12 January), according to Sky Sports.
Nick Powell reported an update from Italy live on Sky Sports News earlier the same afternoon that the French side were in advanced talks and that a contract to 2028 was “waiting for” the Scottish defender.
The Gers have been interested in the Hellas Verona left-back during the January window, while the Italians equally have been chasing his Ibrox counterpart Ridvan Yilmaz and are now “close” to landing him, but look to have missed out on the former Hibs man’s signature.
Powell said: “News just in from our colleagues in Italy, Marseille in advanced talks with Hellas Verona of Serie A to sign the Scotsman Josh Doig.
“They’ve made a maximum offer of £4.3million to the Italian club. Marseille expect him to close the deal by this evening, and a contract until 2028 is waiting for the player to sign.
“Doig, who is a Scotland under-21 international has also been of interest to Rangers, from whom Verona are close to signing Doig’s replacement in Ridvan Yilmaz.”
Worst of all worlds
When it became clear that Rangers wanted Doig and Verona wanted Yilmaz it seemed almost too obvious for them to swap places.
But if the Turkish international is on the brink of an Ibrox exit to replace the Scot, yet the pair of transactions will leave Philippe Clement without an incoming deal of his own then it doesn’t look very positive from a Gers point of view.
The only purpose this development is going to serve for the Light Blues boss is to make a gap in his squad for a new left-back to fill, which was already something that seemed to be on the agenda, and presumably free up some wages.
Since the Yilmaz move is only expected to be a loan [Sky Sports Italy, 12 January] then it won’t even bring in much-needed cash to help Rangers sign his replacement this month.
The 22-year-old has flattered to deceive on the whole since his arrival in Glasgow from Besiktas two summers ago so a departure isn’t too surprising in itself, but a temporary move without an alternative ready to come in appears a risky way of going about things.
Unless Clement plans to use Dujon Sterling then he is going to need to move fast to find a new specialist left-back at low cost, unless he expects to challenge for three further trophies entirely on the strength of Borna Barisic at the position.
In other Rangers news, Chris Jack has shared what he keeps hearing over the possible exit of an Ibrox star.