Kevin Muscat’s seven-figure compensation fee revealed as Shanghai Port officials react to Rangers developments

Shanghai Port officials are now aware of Rangers’ intent to hire Kevin Muscat and have reportedly started to find his successor in China.

Rangers are zoning in on appointing Muscat to succeed Russell Martin in the Ibrox dugout after he was sacked a week and a half ago following a dreadful start to the season.

The Light Blues are currently eighth in the Scottish Premiership with just one win in seven games and are joint-bottom of the Europa League, having suffered losses in both of their league-phase games.

Muscat‘s 2025 has been the polar opposite of Rangers‘ with Shanghai Port two points clear at the top of the Chinese Super League with four games to play.

However, Shanghai Port’s bid to win a third successive title means that Muscat would be unavailable until late November, when the Chinese Super League season concludes.

Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat smiles.
Credit: Imago

Rangers have to pay £1.5m fee to hire Kevin Muscat

Neil McCann is increasingly likely to take short-term charge of Rangers, starting with their Scottish Premiership clash against Dundee United this Saturday.

Muscat is then being lined up to start with the Gers after Shanghai Port’s Chinese Super League season finishes on 22 November.

According to the Daily Record, Rangers’ owners have opened contract negotiations with Muscat, who played at Ibrox in the treble-winning 2002-03 season.

It is understood that the Australian has made a “huge step” towards being the new permanent Gers manager, but a deal to bring him in from China would see a £1.5million fee paid to Shanghai Port, who’ve now started trying to find his replacement.

Rangers target Kevin Muscat's record in China.
Muscat’s record in China

As per stats by Sofascore, Muscat has a 70.1 per cent win ratio at Shanghai Port, averaging a whopping 2.52 goals per game.

Who else could join new backroom staff at Ibrox

It looks like the plan is for McCann to take charge for the coming weeks while Muscat finishes off his job in China with Shanghai Port.

He’ll then reportedly join Muscat’s coaching team and play a similar role to what he did with Barry Ferguson during his interim spell in charge last season.

Under-19s coach Stevie Smith has been taking charge of first-team training at Auchenhowie while Martin’s replacement is found, but he’s likely to return to his youth team role once a new hire is in place.

The Daily Record claims that if Danny Rohl gets the job instead of Muscat, ex-Gers midfielder Steven Davis is in contention to return to Govan, as well as former Ibrox captain Lee Wallace.

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