Union Saint Gilloise have announced the signing of Swedish striker Gustaf Nilsson ahead of their Champions League qualifying clash with Rangers next week.
The 25-year-old forward joins from German third division side Wehen Wiesbaden and will look to replace the influence of German striker Deniz Undav, who has returned to Premier League Brighton.
USG have close links to Brighton through owner Tony Bloom and had sent Undav on loan to the Belgian Pro League last season, where he netted 25 goals to win the competition’s golden boot.
Gustaf Nilsson has two caps and one goal for the Swedish national team and had previously spent time playing in Sweden and Denmark, including for last season’s Europa League foes Brondby.
The boots of Deniz Undav are certainly big ones to fill at Union Saint Gilloise but this move will be of interest to Rangers fans just days before the Ibrox side travels to Belgium for a crunch Champions League qualifier with £40m on the line for group stage qualification.
Union saint Gilloise sign Gustaf Nilsson ahead of Rangers clash
“Union Saint-Gilloise has a new striker! The Swedish Gustaf Nilsson joins our ranks from the German club Wehen Wiesbaden!” Reads a USG statement.
“Swedish international twice, with a goal against Denmark, Gustaf stands out for his size (1m96) and his sense of goal.
“Before landing in Wiesbaden, where he scored 21 goals in 50 games, our new centre-forward was active in Scandinavia.
“Trained in Falkenberg in Sweden, he then headed to Brondby then Silkeborg and Velje, before returning home to Hacken.
“At 25, he took a new step by signing a 3-season contract with an option for 1 additional year at the Union. Välkommen Gustaf.”
Europa League Finalists Rangers face the prospect of another season in Europe’s second tier competition if they cannot overcome Union Saint Gilloise in Champions League qualification.
The Gers were dumped out at the QR3 stage last season by Swedish champions Malmo and will need to overcome the Belgian runners up to reach the Playoff stage this time around.
Now, the Ibrox side know they will have to overcome Gustaf Nilsson if they harbour any ambitions of making it to the Champions League group stages.
Meanwhile, one Rangers-linked playmaker is set to leave his current club but the president is decidedly coy regarding precisely where he is heading.
