As Rangers links to Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo persist, the Premier League club’s failed pursuit of Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku might offer an Ibrox transfer clue.
Only last week where we musing over Nottingham Forest’s reported pursuit of the ex-Strasbourg centre-back, who has now been unveiled at Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
The Istanbul outfit are going through quite the revamp this summer with Alexander Djiku set to team up with ex-Rangers winger Ryan Kent in Istanbul alongside a host of top names.
This includes, most recently, Ajax’s Serbian winger Dusan Tadic, who is set form a deadly frontline with the former Ibrox star and beaten Champions League finalist Edin Dzeko.
But more pertinently to Rangers, the fact that Nottingham Forest were linked with a move for defender Djiku suggests that Ross Wilson remains in the hunt for defensive reinforcements down south.
The City Ground side have even been linked with a summer move for highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie [Bola VP], who’s been valued at a whopping £37m.
Nottingham Forest hunt defender amid Jonathan Panzo links
Whilst that move is unlikely given the number of big clubs tailing the Ecuadorean, it gives an insight into the type of player being linked to the Reds this summer.
If Nottingham Forest’s interest in signing a centre-back is genuine this summer, the failure to capture Alexander Djiku could explain why Rangers are still waiting on Jonathan Panzo.
According to the most recent reports, originating in Football Scotland, Rangers are still “holding talks” over Jonathan Panzo with a £2.5m move from Nottingham Forest no closer to completion.
With Rangers also said to be well aware of Panzo’s wage demands, there’s every chance the Ibrox club are simply waiting on that defensive Nottingham Forest domino to fall before completing a deal.
Ex-Chelsea youth Jonathan Panzo is a player Michael Beale is very familiar with from his time at Stamford Bridge, with the centre-back spending last season on loan at defeated Championship playoff finalists Coventry City.
Rangers have also added Leon Balogun back into the Ibrox squad following an injury to Leon King, with Connor Goldson, John Souttar and Ben Davies the club’s other defensive options.
Nottingham Forest are also being heavily linked with a move for Rangers left-back Borna Barisic as they face serious issues in the position next season.
