Rangers will face serious competition for Aris winger Luis Palma with reports claiming that French, German, American and Brazilian clubs are all chasing the Honduras international.
Mick Beale’s Premiership giants, Sport24 say, sent scouts to watch Palma in the flesh during Aris’ trip to Olympiakos on Sunday afternoon.
And while Palma did not exactly seize the opportunity to show what all the fuss is about – producing one of his more underwhelming displays in recent times – one poor performance is unlikely to have Rangers running for the hills.
Palma, after all, has 10 goals and six assists from just 30 games this season. As such, he averages a ‘goal contribution’ every other game. A far superior record to the man he may replace at Ibrox; the out-of-contract Ryan Kent.
Could Rangers replace Ryan Kent with Luis Palma?
Rangers, Sport24 add, have been watching Palma ‘for months’. But they are certainly not alone. Palma appears to have suitors in every corner of the globe, clubs queuing outside Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium. Like a pack of tracksuit-wearing teenagers outside a corner shop following a new shipment of Prime.
Aris are allegedly aware of interest from Belgian giants Anderlecht, as well as clubs based in France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga, the Brazilian Serie A and even in Major League Soccer. What’s more, while some have suggested that Palma is valued in the £2 million bracket, Sport24 believe that the offers will need to be nearly twice that size if Aris are to sell this summer.
The bidding supposedly starts at £3.5 million.
“(Cristiano) Ronaldo) is my idol,” Palma said recently, having copied the Real Madrid legend’s ‘sleeper’ celebration.
“I’d like to play in the Spanish league, or the Premier League. I like the Bundesliga a lot too,” adds Palma, who also models his game on Arsenal icon Theirry Henry.
“I’d like to go to the Premier League very much. But we are going step by step.”
Palma is not the only Greek Super League talent on Rangers’ radar. Beale’s side reportedly like Olympiakos playmaker Hwang In-Beom and Panathiniakos captain Dimitrios Kourbelis too.
Kourbelis, however, may now stay put and sign a new deal.
