Serbian striker Petar Ratkov has admitted he is flattered by reports linking him with a summer move to Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, speaking to Mozzart Sport.
Presuming that Alfredo Morelos departs Ibrox when his contract expires in July, Mick Beale will have just two first-team centre-forwards at his disposal. Antonio Colak and the 30-year-old, injury-prone Kemar Roofe.
It should come as no real surprise, then, that Beale has made a new ‘number nine’ one of his top priorities ahead of the summer transfer window (The Athletic).
“I’d like to bring another number nine into the building that is different to what we’ve got,” Beale admits. “My eyes are on that. I have my eye on a very specific name for the summer, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”
Whether Steven Gerrard’s former assistant was referring to Patkov – a Serbia U21 international of vast potential – is anybody’s guess. At 6ft 4ins, however, Patkov would certainly give Rangers something, well, a little ‘different’.
Will Rangers sign Petar Ratkov?
More of a targetman than any of the forwards currently at Ibrox, Patkov unsurprisingly puts his sky-scraping height to very good use. He is a relentless presser too, adept at winning the ball back from the front. One attribute, in particular, that should see him fit in nicely under Beale.
“I often watch (Barcelona’s Robert) Lewandowski because we play in the same position. I analyse his game,” Ratkov explains.
“My task is to attack the balls sent forward by the defence or the goalkeeper, to fight with the (opposition) defenders and for my team-mates. Earlier, I played on the left but, lately, we changed the formation. I got more freedom and I’m now more of a central striker.”
Ratkov has six goals in 23 games so far this season for FK TSC in the Serbian top-flight. Italian outfit Parma were willing to pay around £1.5 million in January, but the bid was turned down (Sport Klub).
“I’m not very knowledgeable about all that. But I’m happy when I hear that big clubs are interested in me,” Ratkov admits.
“It gives me motivation to play better and score even more goals. Right now, I’m focused on playing here, and I will get better. But I hope that, one day, I will achieve my goal, which is to play in the top five (European) leagues.”
