They say never fall in love with a loanee, but clearly nobody told Philippe Clement’s Rangers.
After suffering the heartbreak of Abdallah Sima’s departure at the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, are Rangers and Vaclav Cerny destined to end up as star-crossed lovers too?
The flame continues to burn bright at Ibrox – Cerny was outstanding again as Rangers hammered Ross County 4-0 over the weekend – but the whims of Wolsburg leave the Glasgow giants resembling an infatuated youngster desperately pleading with the bride-to-be’s oh-so intimidating father for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
According to claims out of Germany, Philippe Clement’s side ‘cannot afford’ Wolfsburg’s £8 million asking price.
And while Cerny may not have much of a future at the Volkswagen Arena – particularly after the Bundesliga outfit brought in the once Ibrox-linked Andreas Skov Olsen from Club Brugge – Die Wolfe may feel that, if he’s simply too expensive for the Gers, there will be plenty of other clubs willing to stump up £8 million for a winger who has already reached 20 goals and assists by the start of February.
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Vaclav Cerny price-tag has Kris Boyd fearing Rangers exit
Kris Boyd, the former Rangers striker, is not exactly holding his breath.
He feels that, between Cerny and his creator-in-chief Ianis Hagi, the Romanian is far more likely to begin 2025/26 in that blue shirt.
“I think there’s probably more chance of Ianis Hagi starting in the team [next season],” Boyd reflects, the former forgotten man continuing his stunning resurgence with a brace against Don Cowie’s County on Sunday.
“You have got to give Ianis Hagi enormous credit. It would have been quite easy for him to down tools and switch off and see his contract out.
“He might well move on, but he’s going to get himself a better more than he would have a few months ago if he does move on because he’s turned up, he’s worked ever so hard to make the impact he has.”
Hagi’s current deal runs until the summer of 2026. If Rangers cannot agree an extension, then they will have only two windows remaining within which to recoup even a fraction of their £3 million investment.
As far as Cerny is concerned, Boyd feels that Rangers may be paying the price for their failure to agree an option-to-buy clause with the one-time Ajax starlet when thrashing out negotiations with Wolfsburg.
Boyd speaks out on Rangers’ ‘difficult’ Cerny situation
“Cerny, listen, I think that’s always the issue when you take someone on loan and you don’t have something in there where you can buy them for a set price,” adds the five-time Scottish Premiership Golden Boot winner.
“If they come in and do well, [the parent club] will be looking to offload them and get more money. It is a difficult one for Rangers to shell out that money.
“Overall, those two have probably been the best two in that [attacking] area behind Cyriel Dessers or Hamza Igamane. Philippe Clement will be looking for more for is big summer signing in [Nedim] Bajrami.
“[Cerny] has probably given Rangers a problem in terms of the fee they need to pay. And Hagi, from the wilderness you have to say, has got himself back performing well.
“And if Rangers can’t agree a deal, he’s going to get himself a far better move than a few months ago.”
Philippe Clement has already confirmed, back in December, that Rangers would not be able to pay the fee Wolfsburg wanted. Their best hope, then, is that the 2009 Bundesliga champions may be willing to consider another loan deal, or that they can be convinced to reduce their demands.
Cerny is keen to simply let his football do the talking, meanwhile. Whatever happens, he says, happens.
“I’m playing a season without an option [to buy clause],” Cerny said in January. “I’m enjoying it here extremely. I don’t want to think about what will happen. There will be time for that towards the end of the season, when things start to settle down.
“If the tug-of-war starts then, it’s no longer in my hands. It’s in my hands if I score 20 goals [and] assist another 20. Then, other options will open up.”
“I know what the situation is at Rangers, what the possibilities are. But it’s not up to me to comment on that so soon. I just have to give my best on the pitch and help the club to achieve success.”
