Greek giants Olympiakos reportedly value South Korea star Hwang In-Boem at £13 million in a major blow to Rangers summer transfer plans.
If Borussia Monchengladbach cannot afford him then, realistically speaking, neither can a Rangers side operating with a much smaller budget.
Gladbach, Sport24 say, have had their talentspotters camped out in Greece for much of this season. Hwang, Olympiakos’ 26-year-old midfield metronome, is reportedly the reason for the majority of those scouting missions.
But Olympiakos are reportedly looking for a sum in the region of 15 million euros. A fee Gladbach have all-but confirmed will be beyond them this summer.
Sporting director Roland Virkus admitted as much when quizzed about the prospect of signing Benfica loanee Julian Weigl on a permanent deal recently. Weigl’s buy-out clause, Sport24 point out, is pretty much identical to the price-tag placed on Hwang In-Beom’s head.
“There’s no way we’re going to get there,” Virkus explains. “We don’t have that ability (to pay £13 million).”
Rangers could miss out on Olympiakos star Hwang In-Beom
Of course, Gladbach could raise funds by selling Manu Kone; the French midfielder with a throng of Premier League admirers. Their other prized asset, top scorer Marcus Thuram, is out of contract and will therefore leave Borussia Park for free.
Rangers, Greek reporter Georgeos Sideridis explains, are also big fans of the Daejeon-born Hwang. The Glasgow giant have never spent an eight-figure sum on a single player, however. That is very unlikely to change. Even with the prospect of Champions League football and the funds that brings.
Hwang, a highly-intelligent, tempo-setting playmaker, would have been a more-than welcome addition at Ibrox. Mick Beale’s side, for all their strengths, lack a midfielder capable of controlling the game while contributing in both the attacking and defensive departments.
Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and the experienced Steven Davis are all expected to depart in July too.
But with Olympiakos demanding £13 million – and with Gladbach likely to start any bidding at around £7 million – Rangers pursuit of Hwang could be over before it really begins.
