‘Rangers have pulled off transfer not seen since Walter Smith’s days’
New Rangers signing Ryan Naderi is earning plaudits left, right and centre.
After weeks of trying, Rangers finally signed Hansa Rostock striker Naderi on transfer deadline day for £4.7million.
Naderi then scored a brace on his full Rangers debut in the 8-0 Scottish Cup win over Queen’s Park on Saturday, a result that set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Celtic.
The 6ft 4in forward showed how much of a threat he can be for the Gers in the final third, as Naderi drew comparisons to Rangers hero Alfredo Morelos.
While he has only come off the bench against relegation-threatened Kilmarnock and bagged a double against lower league opposition in Queen’s Park, it is clear Rangers have a real gem on their hands with Naderi.
Ryan Naderi likened to former Rangers talisman
Naderi is showing positive signings since pulling on the Rangers jersey. He took his two headed goals well against Queen’s Park but bigger tests lie ahead.
Writing for the Daily Record, journalist Keith Jackson said he sees shades of Naderi in former Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, an old fan favourite at Ibrox.
Signed for around £4m in August 2010 under former Rangers boss Walter Smith, the 6ft 2in Croatian international scored 36 goals in 55 appearances before joining Everton in 2012 for £5m.
Despite Rangers being in deep financial problems, Jelavic helped the Gers win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup in 2011. Now, Naderi has been likened to him.
Jackson wrote: “Nikica Jelavic was recruited from Rapid Vienna for a sum of around £4m. And, not for the first time, the history books will show that Smith’s judgement was just about immaculate.
“Jelavic spearheaded Smith’s attack as the great man successfully navigated his club through increasingly turbulent headwinds to win a third successive top flight title as well as lifting the League Cup.
“Jelavic’s contribution had proved to be as decisive as the manager expected it to be. And it might just be that something similar is on the cards where the deadline day capture of Naderi is concerned.
“Rangers haven’t possessed a striker boasting so many of these raw attributes since Smith identified Jelavic as the man to lead his final victory lap.”
Rangers, who sit second in the league, face a tough test away at fourth-placed Motherwell on Wednesday, before hosting leaders Hearts on Sunday.
If they win both of these matches, they could go top of the division. Whether or not Naderi plays a big part in that remains to be seen.
Scottish Premiership title race heating up for Rangers
In early October, Rangers were being written off in the title race after summer appointee Russell Martin was sacked, with the team languishing in eighth.
But his successor, Danny Rohl, has steadied Rangers’ ship, with the Ibrox outfit now sitting just three points behind table-topping Hearts, with Celtic three points back, albeit with a game in hand.
Prior to the Kilmarnock match, Rangers had the fourth-best attack in the division. But with the addition of Naderi, that could change for the better.
Rangers have won seven of their last eight league matches and are primed for an exciting title race with Hearts and bitter rivals Celtic.
Rohl wanted a new forward signing to bolster his attack and now he’s got it with Naderi, who joined from the third tier of German football.
It may be too much responsibility to heap on the 22-year-old’s shoulders to fire Rangers’ attack to the title but he could be key as they bid to top the pile for the first time since 2021.