Rangers want to sign Benfica ace David Jurasek as Manchester United £8.6m move opens door for transfer
Rangers have seen the door opened for them to sign Benfica star David Jurasek amid an £8.6m Manchester United development, according to HITC.
Writing on their website (13 January), the news outlet report that the Portuguese giants are closing in on a deal for Alvaro Fernandez on loan with an option to buy worth £8.6m.
And that should see Jurasek allowed to leave Lisbon after arriving for £12m in the summer, with Rangers keen on doing a deal for the 23-year-old Czech Republic international.
“Alvaro Fernandez, HITC has been informed, is close to joining Benfica from the Red Devils, cutting short his loan spell at La Liga outfit Granada in the process,” they wrote.
“The Spain under 21 left-back will move to the Primeira Liga powerhouses initially on a temporary basis, albeit with an £8.6 million option-to-buy clause in his contract.
“HITC also understands that Fernandez’s arrival will open the door for fellow left-back David Jurasek to leave Benfica. Rangers and Marseille are fans of the 23-year-old Czech Republic defender.
“Interestingly, both clubs are also speaking to Hellas Verona about former Hibernian flyer Josh Doig. Doig is reportedly on his way to Marseille instead of Rangers, however. And that may leave Philippe Clement’s side free to pursue Jurasek.
“If Rangers do want Jurasek on a full-time basis, they would likely be reliant on Benfica accepting a substantial loss on a player who has struggled to live up to his sizeable price-tag.”
Domino effect
This transfer situation is a very weird position for Rangers to be in, because there isn’t really a pressing need for the club to move on Ridvan Yilmaz.
The Turkey international has been in solid form in recent weeks and with Borna Barisic’s contract expiring in the summer, there is a chance he leaves with no money coming in.
But Philippe Clement is seemingly adamant on getting rid of Yilmaz and replacing him in this window, and the transfer of Josh Doig could be the first domino to fall.
The Scot is heading to Marseille according to reports, and Verona want to replace him with Yilmaz. With Benfica then signing Fernandez from Manchester United, that leaves the path clear for Rangers to bring in Jurasek and give the boss what he wants.
Whether it’s a loan or a cut price deal it will be interesting to keep an eye on in the coming days, but Rangers could be set for a new saga to get underway.
In other Rangers news, transfer twist as club open talks for new deal for star Clement wants at Ibrox.