What we know as Derek McInnes wants Rangers to strike Kosta Nedeljkovic deal
Rangers are making their move for Aston Villa defender Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Derek McInnes is already under significant pressure to find the answers at Ibrox ASAP.
Rangers' 2-1 defeat to Hibernian on Sunday means it's now three competitive games without a win for the Gers boss, and fans are starting to get restless.
Nine new signings have been made by Rangers this summer, but McInnes and Ibrox chiefs alike are hoping that'll soon be in double figures.
A deal for PSV winger Couhaib Driouech remains a key priority for the Bears, but further upgrading in defence is also on the agenda.
Rangers have already signed Ross McCrorie to bolster their right flank, but McInnes doesn't appear to be content with that being his only new addition to this department.
What kind of deal do Rangers want to do for Kosta Nedeljkovic?
Two players in Ivor Pandur and Dan Neil have already arrived in Govan from the Premier League this summer, but that could soon become three.
The Daily Record is now reporting that McInnes is looking to bring Aston Villa's Nedeljkovic to Rangers before the summer transfer window shuts.
The 20-year-old Serbian international was signed by Villa for £8million from Red Star Belgrade in January 2024, but has only ever made 10 competitive appearances for the Villa Park outfit.
It's claimed that Rangers are mulling over a cash deal for Nedeljkovic, but that a loan with the option to buy is also on the cards as well.
Nedeljkovic has spent the last year-and-a-half away from Aston Villa, but where has he been plying his trade and how has he fared?
Why Nedeljkovic would be significant Rangers gamble
Despite having already won 11 senior international caps for Serbia and being one of the most highly-rated young talents in his home country, Nedeljkovic hasn't quite been able to show that potential with Aston Villa just yet.
However, since the 2025 winter transfer window, the young right-back has been spending time out on loan with German Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.
That indicates just how highly he's thought of for a club of that size to take him on loan for the last 18 months, but it didn't really work out for him there either.
Indeed, Nedeljkovic only ended up making 17 competitive appearances for Leipzig, with 11 of those coming in 2024-25 and six in 2025-26.
Clearly then, Nedeljkovic remains a fairly raw and unrefined right-back talent, but one that has numerous top European clubs on his CV.
Perhaps a loan deal with the option to buy would be the wisest route for Rangers to take with him, if Aston Villa are willing to sanction such an agreement.