Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed that the Light Blues have paid Bologna £3million for defender Filip Helander – and insists his side have got an “excellent” addition to their ranks.
Reports had claimed the Gers would pay between £3-£5.5million for the Swedish international and Gerrard has put the record straight on his biggest signing this summer.
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Light Blues boss also admitted that the giant defender gave his side something they lack in a left-footed central defender.
“You can see straight away he has a huge profile and you need that in Scotland – he’s 6’4” – so he can defend the box aerially, he is a left-footer so he gives us something we haven’t got,” Gerrard told Rangers TV.
“We want him to help us organise and keep clean sheets and defend the goal for his life. For the amount of money we’ve paid, £3m, we believe we’ve got an excellent player.”
Helander was presented to the crowd at Ibrox during yesterday’s friendly thrashing of Marseille and could make his debut in next Sunday’s clash with Blackburn.
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The defender’s arrival will likely push Nikola Katic out of the starting XI and it’ll be interesting to see how the young Croatian handles being pushed out the side for the second season in a row.
At £3million, Helander marks a hefty outlay for the Gers and hopefully, he’s someone that quickly lives up to the fee after disappointment last season with Eros Grezda.
