Olwethu Makhanya could now break Scottish record at Rangers with £30m transfer

Olwethu Makhanya could already be on his way out of Rangers in January.

The Gers signed the South Africa international in the summer transfer window, but he's exceeded expectations in Scotland.

In the two Old Firm derbies, the centre-back's aggressive defending and composure on the ball highlight the quality of player Derek McInnes has at his disposal.

With Makhanya attracting a lot of attention at Ibrox, Premier League clubs may soon pounce on his signature.

The Glaswegian outfit signed the 22-year-old for around £3million from Philadelphia Union and have unearthed a gem.

Makhanya signed a four-year contract with the Govan side and they could possibly bank a hefty profit on him.

What scouts could now be saying about Olwethu Makhanya at Rangers

Makhanya's value at Rangers is only expected to soar higher if he continues to find success in Scotland.

Daily Record journalist Daniel Caw wouldn't be surprised to see the South African defender become the first player to leave Scotland for £30m.

Andy Newport worries the Gers won't be able to keep the defender for long if he consistently performs at Ibrox.

The reporter, who covers the Glaswegian outfit closely, has mooted teams from down south lining up to pay significant figures to sign Makhanya in January.

Speaking on Hotline Live on 22 September, Caw said, "You think he could break records and I can only agree with you. I think this guy could be the first £30m export in Scottish football."

"If he performs at this level, I don't think there's much chance he stays at Rangers. You already have scouts looking at this lad and thinking we should've taken him down to England or a top five league.

"I'd be amazed if there weren't a queue of Premier League teams lining up to offer big money for him come January."

Why Ibrox hierarchy could be reluctant to sell Olwethu Makhanya soon

Rangers have some valuable assets on their hands, and Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises will likely want to see a return on their investment soon.

Having a sensible player-trading model should be one of the Gers' priorities under the new ownership, but the case may be different for Makhanya.

Unlike Nicolas Raskin, who will have just one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season, the Light Blues have a bit more control over the centre-back's future.

Before cashing in on the South Africa international further down the line, the Govan side should maybe look to sell Emmanuel Fernandez first, who has attracted plenty of attention in recent months.

The Nigeria international's performances are a bit erratic and he certainly doesn't seem as important to the Glaswegian outfit's success as Makhanya.