Silas Andersen of BK Hacken and Andrew Cavenagh, the Rangers chairman.

Credit: Imago

Rangers: 49ers can't be let off lightly as Silas Andersen packs bags ahead of transfer

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with experience at the Northern Echo and Durham Cricket Club; Teesside University graduate. FOCUS Long-form opinion and deep-dive content across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Jacob utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, analytical reporting. He provides in-depth opinion and insight to ensure fans get beyond the headlines and into the detail.

Published on:

06 Jun 2026, 11:40 am

Rangers chiefs have dropped the ball once again as the 49ers look set to miss out on admired target Silas Andersen.

The Bears had been tracking the midfielder, who was always looking likely to leave Swedish side BK Hacken this summer.

After Gers looked eager to strike a deal for Andersen, Sporting CP have swooped in and look set to sign the 21-year-old.

According to Sebastiou Sosa-Pinto's report on X this Thursday, the Portuguese giants have agreed a fee worth £8.65million for Andersen, who is set to travel to Portugal for his medical later this week.

The 49ers have already missed out on transfers this summer, and despite signing Lawrence Shankland, they are showing signs of failure already.

The 49ers show something else with Silas Andersen missed chance

Andersen is set to sign a deal until 2031 with Sporting, as his transfer across Europe is close to being finalised.

There's simply no denying that he was someone Andrew Cavenagh and Co. wanted to give Danny Rohl, but they've come up short.

This comes not long after Rangers seemingly missed the opportunity to sign Luca Stephenson from Liverpool, the same player who terrorised them at Ibrox towards the end of last season.

Andersen was linked with a move to Rangers in the winter window, too, and the Light Blues were urged to pounce on a deal that could have been worth £5.9m.

Rangers handed boost to sign Silas Andersen as sporting director speaks out - 'We will sell'

As good a signing as Shankland was, he was free, and the first time money comes into the equation for a signing this summer, the 49ers have bottled it.

Who could Rangers turn their attention to now?

Gers will now need to go back to the drawing board and lean on back-up targets instead of Andersen, which isn't ideal in the slightest.

After missing out on the Dane, Rangers may put full focus into signing Hungarian international Milan Vitalis.

The 24-year-old plays for Gyori ETO in the Hungarian first division, and with 12 goals and assists to his name last season, he could be the ideal man to sign after the disappointment with Andersen.

It was always clear that Andersen was someone who could control the tempo in the middle of the park, as well as have an impact in the final third, which makes a move for Vitalis even more likely.

Rangers Football Club