Francis Amuzu expects to leave Belgian giants Anderlecht this summer but it remains to be seen if Rangers have missed the boat for the exciting winger.
It is over two years now since reports linking Rangers with a move for the Belgium U21 international first emerged. First, by far from the last.
Flash forward to April 2023 and, while Amuzu now seems more likely than ever to fly the Anderlecht nest, only time will tell whether or not the Glasgow giants can realistically hope lure him to the banks of the Clyde.
It is no secret that Mick Beale will be in the market for a new wide forward or two over the coming months. Ryan Kent is out of contract in July. Amuzu, like Aris’ Honduran speedster Luis Palma, shares Kent’s preference for a role on the left-hand side of the attack, cutting in onto his right boot.
At the age of 23, Amuzu is starting to add a consistent end product to his game too. While scoring only three goals, a tally of 11 assists is comfortably his best return since establishing himself in the Anderlecht first-team under former boss Vincent Kompany.
Is Francis Amuzu now out of Rangers’ reach?
According to Het Nieuwsblad, Amuzu has been informed that he will be allowed to leave during the summer of 2023. The Ghana-born flyer has spent the last six years at Lotto Park. He believes the time is right for a change of scenery.
Rangers could offer him that. Plus, regular European football, and a shot at silverware. But while Amuzu once had an affordable £3.5 million release clause in his contract, his price-tag has rocketed since then. Anderlecht rejected a bid of around £8 million from ambitious, Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice last year.
The Belgian giants may be willing to consider lower offers this time around. But Rangers are operating on a limited budget compared to clubs in more high-profile leagues. Furthermore, Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander and co could all depart on free transfers, denying Rangers the opportunity to make a substantial profit – and therefore raise further funds – by selling a trio of players who would have brought in eye-watering sums in previous transfer windows.
“There was a time a couple of years ago when Morelos and Kent were valued at around £30million. To see both of them walk out the door on a free would just typify some of the poor decisions being made behind the scenes at Rangers,” former Celtic winger Kris Commons writes in his Daily Mail column.
Even the most ardent Rangers supporter would probably have to accept that a man who bleeds green-and-white has a point.
“Neither Morelos nor Kent actually deserve a new deal,” Commons adds. “They’ve been rotten for months.”
