Azerbaijani centre back Bahlul Mustafazade isn’t exactly one of the best-known names in Scotland. It’s also probably one of the hardest names to say.
But that hasn’t stopped our cross-city rivals reportedly expressing an interested in the player. The Herald claims Celtic are ready to move for the 22-year-old on a pre-contract.
But could Rangers use their Azerbaijani connections to scupper any deal and bring him to Ibrox?
We’re not talking about the Europa League final and our ill-fated trip to Baku either. Bahlul Mustafazade plays for Qabala in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Why is that significant? Well if you remember correctly Rangers star Andy Halliday spent some time on-loan there last season in a kind of Caixinha inspired purgatory.
That means Halliday would’ve been a teammate of the Azerbaijani centre half. It also means Halliday’s in a good position to run the rule over the player.
If he’s someone he would recommend to Gerrard, he might even be able to bend the player’s ear. That’s if he has any relationship with Mustafazade at all.
Like Celtic, we’re going to be on the hunt for two new centre-halves when the transfer window opens.
Joe Worrall looks set to return to Nottingham Forest [originally Football Insider], whilst Gareth McAuley is unlikely to be offered a new deal.
As a result, Rangers have been linked to a range of options at centre back. And with the news that the club may well be priced out of one of their major targets [originally TEAMtalk], could this intriguing Celtic target be an option for the Ibrox club?
