Rangers increasingly appear to be out of contention for Jonathan Panzo with Nottingham Forest’s Premier League misfit more likely to end up in the English Championship than the Scottish top flight.
While providing an update on Jonathan Panzo’s future ahead of this week’s transfer deadline, Football Insider reporter Peter O’Rourke provided a list of four clubs who have all ‘registered an interest’ in the former England youth international.
And Rangers, tellingly, were conspicuous by their absence.
It is two months now since the Daily Record and Fabrizio Romano both reported that Rangers were closing in on a £2.5 million deal for Panzo on the back of an impressive loan spell at defeated play-off finalists Coventry City.
Fast forward to August 29th, however, and a transfer which appeared nailed on not so long ago now appears to be off the cards entirely.
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Rangers no longer an option for Jonathan Panzo
Panzo reportedly had reservations about moving north of the border. At least, with Swansea City, Cardiff and Birmingham all interested, the one-time Chelsea prospect should be afforded the opportunity to pick up where he left off at Coventry at Championship level.
O’Rourke reports that all three clubs are in discussions with a Nottingham Forest who again left Panzo out of their squad for Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 defeat at Manchester United. There is also interest from Belgian giants Anderlecht.
Anderlecht lost the similarly left-footed Hannes Delcroix to Burnley last week.
‘Outstanding’ John Souttar
At Rangers, meanwhile, John Souttar appears to have nailed down the left-sided centre-half role that could have been bequeathed to Panzo at Ibrox. Putting those injury issues behind him, Souttar was in top form again as Rangers edged past Ross County over the weekend.
“He’s been outstanding,” Beale tells Rangers Review. “Again, another one who is over his injury issues of the past. I’ve been delighted with him.
He’s not only a good defender, he’s like an extra midfielder. You can see the way he steps out and plays through the lines.
“I’m delighted with him.”