A Serie A midfielder Rangers came close to signing on deadline day last summer continues to impress in the Italian top tier ahead of a big transfer window at Ibrox.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed Rangers came “so close” to signing Czech international midfielder Jakub Jankto from Sampdoria in October last year [Romano].
Romano also claimed on the Here We Go podcast that Jankto was “really, really close to joining Rangers on deadline day”.
The Gers instead opted to move for South African international Bongani Zungu but the jury remains out whether a loan move will be made permanent in the summer.
It was also claimed in November last year that Rangers still had one eye on Jankto, who has also been linked to Arsenal and AC Milan in the past.
Rangers are gearing up for an assault on the Champions League group stages next season and plans are already afoot to improve the squad ahead of the campaign.
Jankto, 25, is certainly one of the more interesting reported targets from the summer and he continues to impress in Italy.
The midfielder lashed in an early second-half equaliser in Sampdoria’s 3-1 win over Verona at the weekend, his fifth Serie A strike in 28 games this season.
A powerful box-to-box midfielder with ability on the ball and an eye for goal, it may be considered a bit of a coup if Rangers could secure any deal for the Czech international.
However, it’s interesting to note that Jankto is a former Slavia Prague youth player and current Czech international teammate of Ondrej Kudela.
Rangers have been involved in a very dramatic war of words with both the Czech club and UEFA after Kudela was found guilty of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
It of course unclear if this is something which would affect Jankto’s decision-making heading into the summer or if Rangers remain interested in this very talented midfield option.
But whatever the case Jankto continues to impress and if the Gers had an eye on him last summer, then they’ll almost certainly be aware of him heading into the next window.
Speaking of an assault on the Champions League, Rangers are reportedly on the verge of announcing a deal with an £18m-rated star ahead of the new campaign.
