Rangers’ hopes of landing Bryan Reynolds this summer have been dealt a significant blow after a Ligue 1 heavy hitter launched an opening offer.
The Ibrox recruitment team has spent the early weeks of the summer window actively scouring the market for defensive reinforcements to reshape the squad ahead of the new campaign, with replacing James Tavernier identified as a priority.
While Rangers are on the verge of re-signing Ross McCrorie, United States international Reynolds has long been identified as a premium option to permanently fill the void out wide.
The 24-year-old KVC Westerlo star has reportedly already given the green light to a potential switch to Glasgow, but the Light Blues have now been handed a major wake-up call.
According to an exclusive update from Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri, Rennes have officially submitted an opening bid of €3.8million (£3.3million) to secure the defender’s signature.
A four-man shortlist has been drawn up to replace James Tavernier…
We believe Hampus Skoglund is the ideal candidate. Let us know what you think!
Andrew Cavenagh faces critical pricing choice as Rennes bid eclipses Rangers offer
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has already seen a formal opening package of £2.2m knocked back by the Jupiler Pro League outfit.
While initial reports suggested Westerlo were holding out for an ambitious £4.3m, exclusive sources have indicated to Rangers News that a compromised fee of roughly £3m would likely get the deal over the line.
Rennes’ concrete £3.3m table offer has completely shattered that comfortable baseline, effectively moving the goalposts for the Ibrox board.
What is Ross McCrorie’s best position, according to you?
Rangers are all set to bring him back to Ibrox!
With two unnamed clubs from Belgium’s top five also actively circling the former AS Roma man, Rangers must decide whether to match the increased French valuation or risk losing a primary target to a European rival.
Bryan Reynolds tactical blueprint: Why the USA star is the ideal modern full-back
Should the Ibrox board decide to dig deep and counteroffer, they would be purchasing a modern right-back possessing an athletic profile.
Standing at 6ft 1in, Reynolds has a robust profile, blending blistering pace with an imposing figure.
A quick look at his underlying output for Westerlo showcases exactly why he matches the technical demands of a high-possession team.
With 39 Belgian Pro League starts to his name last season, the defender scored two goals and provided three assists, while his chances created tally of 36 stands out.
The data paints a clear picture: Reynolds is a modern, high-volume full-back who thrives on dominating his flank.
His elite 67.7 per cent aerial success rate is significantly high for a wide defender, offering a hidden tactical solution for a team that has historically struggled to defend the back post against physical domestic opposition.
If Rangers are serious about building a dynamic, physically dominant squad capable of wrestling back domestic dominance, matching the £3.3m market rate for an elite asset of this profile simply makes complete footballing sense.
