For a club that is adamant they won’t be rushing into any purchases in the January window, Rangers sure are getting linked to a hell of a lot of players.
The Ibrox side’s sporting director Ross Wilson reiterated in the week that there will be no panic buying this window [Glasgow Times] and that his job is more focused on trimming the fat in the squad.
But that hasn’t stopped no fewer than TWELVE names from being linked to Ibrox in a window dominated by rumours, reports and well, let’s be honest, a lot of rubbish.
Craig MacGillivray – Portsmouth
This one kind of makes sense given the goalkeeping situation at the club. The contracts of Foderingham and Firth will expire at the end of this season, and Allan McGregor won’t be around forever.
MacGillivray, 26, was linked in December [Scottish Sun] and could be the long-term solution Rangers are looking for.
Jared Branthwaite – Carlisle
Another player linked to Rangers from the lower leagues of England, Jared Branthwaite is a 17-year-old defender with big potential in the game.
The Ibrox club was said to be battling Celtic for the teenager’s signature but the most recent reports suggest Premier League Everton have beaten them to the punch [Sky Sports via the Scottish Sun].
Lovro Majer – Dinamo Zagreb
A 21-year-old Croatian midfielder with a potentially huge career in front of him, this would be a majorly ambitious move by Rangers if they pull it off.
According to a Croatian football journalist, Rangers would have to pay £6m [Richard Wilson] if they want to take the playmaker to Ibrox.
Stuart Armstrong – Southampton
A former Celtic midfielder now plying his trade in the Premier League, there is absolutely nothing concrete in this rather than an innocuous enough tweet from club insider Four Lads Had a Dream.
The respected blogger talked of a rumour which “would start WW3 faster than Donald Trump” [Four Lads] – que people putting Armstrong, Scotland and Ross Wilson together.
Scott Allan – Hibs
Which brings us rather nicely on to the next subject. The Hibs playmaker and former Celtic midfielder is another name being mentioned as a result of the Armstrong-geddon prophesised in the aftermath of the Four Lads tweet.
Rangers have been here before and it’s fair to say that most fans don’t support this rumour after boyhood bluenose Allan joined Celtic in 2015 despite lingering Ibrox interest.
Steven Berghuis – Feyenoord
Another mental one which spawned plenty of chat from Rangers supporters online, Berghuis is arguably the de Kuip club’s best player and would cost anyone moving for him a pretty penny.
Once of Premier League Watford, there’s not much in this other than a few comments from Dutch media based on the rumour mill online. But that hasn’t stopped fans passing judgment on it.
Lyle Taylor – Charlton
The Charlton striker sparked plenty of rumours about his immediate future when it was pointed out the striker only follows two clubs on Twitter, Rangers and Charlton.
With Taylor’s contract expiring in the summer, the red-hot forward could be available for a knock-down price this month and has been linked with Rangers [Sky Sports].
Kevin Nisbet – Dunfermline
Perhaps one of the more lowkey of the recent transfer links, Kevin Nisbet has been quietly going about his business in the Scottish Championship.
The 22-year-old striker has already got 20 goals this season and it reportedly hasn’t gone unnoticed by the powers that be at Ibrox [Evening Times].
Mostafa Mohamed – Zamalek
Perhaps one which is with a view to the future, the situation concerning Mostafa Mohamed is a very interesting one to say the least.
Rangers have reportedly launched a £500k loan bid with a view to a permanent move [Daily Record] but current club Zamalek are refusing to budge on their valuation.
It is claimed Mohamed has now handed in a transfer request and he was dropped for Zamalek’s 3-2 win over Tanta at the weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwRcwcNaLhA
Oliver Giroud – Chelsea
Arguably the most batshit of the lot, Rangers have been linked with a move for Chelsea striker and World Cup winner Oliver Giroud.
According to reports in France, Rangers had reached out to the towering 33-year-old about a move. Seriously.
Dwight Gayle – Newcastle
One of three potential back-and-forths coming out of St. James Park and Ibrox, the rumoured interest in Dwight Gayle was eventually shot down by Scottish reports [Daily Record].
Between Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier being linked with moves in the opposite direction, why is no-one talking about the boardroom struggles between the two clubs?
Tyreese Campbell – Stoke
One of the most exciting stories of the window, Rangers are reportedly set to battle it out with Celtic and two Premier League clubs [Independent] for the signature of this burgeoning young talent.
Cross-border compensation rules mean the Old Firm would pay considerably less than a Wolves or Crystal Palace for the 20-year-old with his contract expiring the summer.
