Reported Rangers target Petar Ratkov could yet be the man to crush the club’s Champions League hopes as the Ibrox side’s pathway to the group stages becomes clearer.
The Gers are one of six clubs reportedly tailing teenage Serbian forward Petar Ratkov, with the likes of MLS side FC Cincinnati said to have already made a £2.4m (€2.8m) bid.
But if the 19-year-old is to stick around in Serbia – which is not expected at current side TSC Bačka Topola at least – then he will be part of his side’s Champions League charge and could face Rangers.
The surprise package of the Serbian SuperLiga finished second this season, some way behind runaway winners Red Star Belgrade and, as a result, they are in the non-champions path of qualifying.
Having finished second in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers will also have to navigate this tricky path to the group stages and the £13.5m of guaranteed prize money that comes with it.
Rangers could face Petar Ratkov in Champions League qualifying
Entering at the third round of Champions League qualifying, Rangers and Petar Ratkov will also potentially face KRC Genk of Belgium, Sturm Graz of Austria and Dnipro of Ukraine.
Should the club navigate these early rounds, then Rangers might also face a Champions League grudge match with Ligue 1 Marseille or a repeat of last season’s Playoff with PSV Eindhoven.
But it’s interesting to think that Petar Ratkov might face off against Rangers despite a summer of links that have seen the striker one of several named in the Ibrox side’s forward hunt.
Rangers have been mentioned alongside Ratkov several times this summer, while there have also been links to the likes of Josh Maja of Bordeaux and Tasos Douvikas of Utrecht amongst many other.
Ratkov’s 14-goal haul in Serbia presents an interesting squad option but, given the fact he’s a teenager, we suspect Rangers are also looking at a more developed forward ahead of Champions League qualifying.
