The transfer window is a game of risk and reward, but when it comes to Rangers and their pursuit of a new centre-back, the latest updates from the MLS and England suggest the club should pivot immediately.
Rangers have recently been heavily linked with South Africa international Olwethu Makhanya. Sky Sports originally broke the news of the club’s interest on Tuesday.
However, The Scottish Sun reported that manager Derek McInnes was far from keen on pulling the trigger, even after the 22-year-old was actively offered to the Ibrox club.
Now, a major development from South African outlet iDiski Times confirms that the transfer race has descended into a full-blown saga.
Here is why McInnes is entirely correct to keep his distance from Makhanya, and why the Rangers hierarchy will be kicking themselves over a missed opportunity closer to home.
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Why Rangers must walk away from the Makhanya circus
There is no denying Makhanya’s talent; the young defender featured in South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad and has established himself as a physical force in the MLS.
However, the landscape surrounding his potential exit from Philadelphia Union has caution written all over it.
According to iDiski Times, Philadelphia United have just rejected a fourth consecutive bid for the Bafana Bafana star.
The latest offer, tabled by an unnamed top Belgian club, was worth over €3.5million (£3million).
The MLS side’s hardball stance has left the player “devastated”. Union reportedly promised Makhanya a path to Europe in each of the last two transfer windows, only to move the goalposts once key defensive starters were sold.
While Makhanya’s representatives are desperately trying to negotiate a resolution, Rangers should not get dragged into this mess.
With the player’s price tag already pushed beyond £3m by the rejected Belgian bid, the bidding war is only going to escalate.
Combined with interest from France and England, Rangers would be forced to overpay for a player whose club simply do not want to negotiate.
McInnes‘ reluctance is not just a preference; it is smart, pragmatic management.
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The Luke Graham regret is real
While walking away from Makhanya is logical, it highlights the bitter pill Rangers have had to swallow regarding Luke Graham.
Rangers have been desperate for a quality, left-sided centre-back to build their defence around.
They had identified the ideal profile in Graham, the towering 22-year-old Scottish defender who had been turned heads at Dundee.
Rangers did all the groundwork. They scouted him extensively and looked primed to secure his signature.
Ultimately, Graham chose to sign for EFL Championship side Stoke City in a £2m deal.
At the time, Graham rejected the Gers because the Glasgow giants could not offer him a guarantee of a spot in the starting XI. That decision now looks highly frustrating in hindsight:
- John Souttar is on his way out of Ibrox, having been left out of the trip to Spain amid links to Sheffield United and Leicester City
- Had Graham signed, he would have had a direct path straight into the starting XI to partner Emmanuel Fernandez at the heart of the Rangers defence
Rangers missed out on a proven, homegrown £2m defender who perfectly fit their requirements.
Paying over the odds for Makhanya as a panic reaction would only compound that error.
McInnes should keep the chequebook closed on the MLS saga and look for a more sensible left centre-back solution elsewhere.
