Exclusive: Rangers could still owe £2m for player who Russell Martin never quite fancied
Rangers made 13 signings in the summer transfer window under the guidance of Kevin Thelwell.
Thelwell has come under scrutiny for some of the absurd transfer fees he paid for unproven players.
One of the key reasons why Russell Martin was sacked was his inability to get the best out of the new arrivals, with only Djeidi Gassama and Bojan Miovski managing to adapt well to life at Ibrox.
One new signing failed to get a consistent look-in under Martin, and he could cost the Bears even more money in the months to come.
Oliver Antman could cost Rangers in the future
Antman joined Rangers from Go Ahead Eagles in July, yet Martin did not place much faith in the 24-year-old.
Despite having an incredible season in the Netherlands, Antman has only started three of Rangers’ seven Scottish Premiership matches this season.
To make matters worse for Thelwell’s reputation with the Ibrox faithful, the £3million fee could rise to over £5m if certain add-on clauses are met.
| Youssef Chermiti | £10m |
| Thelo Aasgaard | £3.5m |
| Emmanuel Fernandez | £3.5m |
| Oliver Antman | £3m – could rise to £5m |
| Bojan Miovski | £2.6m – could rise to £4.2m |
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Dutch football expert and Voetbal International journalist Sander Janssen revealed details of Antman’s move to Rangers, and gave his verdict on the deal Thelwell struck for the 24-year-old.
He said: “£3m was the starting sum, but Go Ahead Eagles can actually get over £5m in total with add-ons.
“I think it’s a good fee for Rangers. They often buy players for that kind of money, and I think Antman is definitely worth it. Many people in the Netherlands thought it was a low fee.”
A huge reason for Antman’s early-season struggles has been the lack of consistent game time under Martin, so a new manager could transform his fortunes.
Oliver Antman has to start over Mikey Moore on the right wing
Martin’s possession-based football did not align with what Antman has played under during his whole career, and a new manager could unlock his true potential for the Bears.
Mikey Moore was preferred over Antman for numerous key matches across August and September, despite being hugely criticised for his below-par performances.
Danny Rohl is the favourite to become the new Rangers manager, and should he join, Antman could thrive under his direct, counter-attacking style of football.
| Stat | Antman | Moore |
| Appearances | 13 | 10 |
| Starts | 7 | 6 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 2 | 1 |
Janssen added: “He always said he can play on both wings, like he does with the Finland national team, but something about the right side was just good for him at Go Ahead Eagles.
“He adapted very quickly, and in a short time, he was a crucial player for Go Ahead. They played very directly, with a lot of runs behind the last line of defence. That’s something Antman is very good at.”
Antman is clearly an incredibly talented winger, yet the onus is on him to prove why such a high fee was paid for his services.
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