As you might expect given that he has been labelled ‘one of the best midfielders in Europe’, a player who may yet emerge as the most intriguing of Rangers’ summer transfer targets is unlikely to come cheap.
The man himself admitted, a few weeks ago, that he expected his current employers to demand around 15 million euros from those suitors. Or, if you like, a fee just shy of £13 million.
Now, it is not entirely out of the question that Rangers would consider breaking a transfer record which has stood since Tore Andre Flo swapped Chelsea for Glasgow back in 2000.
As Peter O’Rourke reports, qualification for next season’s Champions League will give Philippe Clement, Nils Koppen and co around £20 million to play with. But still, given that Rangers may find themselves dipping into the market for a new goalkeeper, a left-back and a striker as well as maybe another centre-half and a winger too, the eight-figure sum required to bring Eduard Spertsyan to Scotland may prove to be a rather sizeable obstacle.
And not the only obstacle either.
Rangers like Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan
HITC understands that, while Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic have been drawn to Spertsyan’s likely availability – he is expected to depart Krasnodar this term after another fine campaign – a move to mainland Europe is anticipated at this stage.
Clubs in Britain, after all, are likely to run into problems sending substantial sums of money over to Russia, with the Ukraine situation ongoing.
“Most likely, Spertsyan will leave,” is the view of Igor Korneev, the former Zenit director speaking to Sport Express about the most coveted talent in the country not plying his trade in Moscow or St Petersburg.
“I think (Krasnodar president Sergey) Galitsky will ask for at least 15 million euros for Eduard.
“Now, there are a lot of rumors in the media regarding Spertsyan’s future fate. It’s pointless to comment on all these rumours. One thing is clear; the priority must be a proper sports plan for his development.”
Spertsyan, the only player in the Russian Premier League to reach double figures for both goals and assists last term, may be better served taking something of a ‘stepping stone’ move. There is interest not only from Rangers and Celtic but also Dutch giants Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV Eindhoven.
Read more: Rangers confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits, releases for 2023/24
‘Compared to Steven Gerrard at Liverpool’
The Russian-born Armenia international is a bonafide a set-piece specialist, and possess a fine goalscoring record from midfield. So much so that comparisons have been drawn between Spertsyan and a certain former Rangers boss.
“(Spertsyan) is a top football player with strong qualities,” Nair Tiknizyan, the 23-year-old’s team-mate in the Armenian national team, tells MetaRatings. “He is a real conductor of the team. He has excellent vision of the field.
“His role can be compared to that of Frank Lampard at Chelsea or Steven Gerrard at Liverpool. The whole team largely depends on how he plays.”
