Reported Rangers target Joseph Okumu was reportedly being lined up in case Premier League clubs pounced for Filip Helander – but the big Kenyan could be on the move before Big Fil.
Reports in Rangers defender Helander’s home country of Sweden had previously claimed that the big centre-back was a target for Aston Villa and Leicester City [Sportbladet].
Other reports have claimed that Rangers are looking for around £6m for the player [Football Insider].
Given the fact the Swedish international – who is at Euro 2020 with his country – has never lost a Scottish Premiership match in two seasons, that should come as no surprise.
The towering 6ft4 Okumu, who at 23 is five years Helander’s junior, was supposedly being lined up as a replacement.
Current side Elfsborg certainly think very highly of the defender, with the club’s sporting director claiming Okumu was “the best centre-back” ever to play in the Allsvenskan.
That would make him even better than Helander, who came through the ranks at Malmo.
But before anyone has launched a bid for Helander this summer Okumu is reportedly a transfer target of Belgian outfit KAA Gent.
“He is in Ghent for formal talks with the club,” a source told Goal.com.
“Negotiations have been ongoing and if everything is agreed on, he will become Gent’s new player soon.”
Given Old Firm rivals Celtic were also linked, if Rangers haven’t moved due to the situation surrounding Helander, it’s probably a good thing they haven’t either.
Meanwhile, another player extensively linked to Ibrox remains without a club after being released from his previous club at the end of the season.
