Defender Rade Dugalic keeps talking up a move to Rangers – but we can’t see him making the move to Ibrox this summer.
Few Rangers fans will have known about Dugalic just a few weeks ago.
The Daily Record quoted Dugalic in February as saying that he had a chance to sign for Rangers under Steven Gerrard.
Dugalic claims that he still has all the messages on his phone and even contacted John Arne Riise to try and force through a deal.
That didn’t happen but Dugalic isn’t letting it go.
Speaking to Zurnal this week, Dugalic suggested that he has always liked Rangers more than Celtic.
The Serbian is saying all the right things; if you want to get Rangers fans on board, a little dig at Celtic is a good start.
Yet it really feels like the ship has sailed on Dugalic making the move to Ibrox.
Rangers surely won’t sign Rade Dugalic this summer
Rangers may well be in the market for another defender.
Filip Helander is out of contract this summer and John Souttar has only played once this season.
Rangers would be doing themselves a disservice if they weren’t looking into centre back signings this summer.
Dugalic may believe there is a window of opportunity here but we just can’t see it happening.
Dugalic has been something of a journeyman over the years.
After featuring for Radnicki NIs and Sindelic Nis, Dugalic moved on to Ulisses in Armenia and Torpedo Armavir in Russia.
Dugalic joined two more Russian clubs in Tonso and Yenisey Krasnoyarsk before joining Kazakhstani club Kairat.
Now in China with Meizhou Hakka, Dugalic has carved out a decent career.
Yet Rangers shouldn’t be focusing on a 30-year-old journeyman to bolster Michael Beale’s options.
The Gers need players who can make a real impact for years to come at Ibrox and not a short-term solution.
Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Celtic on Sunday showed the need for new, fresh energy – not more 30-somethings arriving trying to make it work.
That may sound harsh, as not all players in their 30’s are finished, but Rangers need to usher in a new wave of talent.
Dugalic just doesn’t fit the bill anymore; for all his recent comments, we just can’t see a summer deal materialising.
