Rangers wanted to sign Djordje Petrovic just a few years ago and the goalkeeper is now set to join Premier League giants Chelsea.
One of the most curious aspects of the Ross Wilson era was the apparent lack of clear successor to Allan McGregor.
The veteran stopper wasn’t going to go on forever but Rangers didn’t seem to commit to a succession plan.
Jon McLaughlin was never really going to be the long-term solution and has mostly been a backup stopper at Ibrox.
Maybe Wilson and co thought Robby McCrorie would kick on to take that spot, but we’re yet to see him given a real run in the team.
Jack Butland has now arrived so Rangers will probably be very happy with the goalkeeping situation just months after Wilson’s exit.
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Rangers did seemingly have one goalkeeper in mind though having shown an interest in signing Serbian goalkeeper Petrovic.
FootMercato reported back in the summer of 2020 that Rangers had enquired into a potential to sign Petrovic from Cukaricki.
Petrovic was just 20 at the time, so this felt like a clear plan from Rangers in terms of making him the heir to McGregor.
The deal never materialised though and Rangers may well have missed out on a real star…
Former Rangers target Djordje Petrovic set for Chelsea move
Petrovic ended up leaving Cukaricki last summer, completing a move to New England Revolution.
Signed to replace Matt Turner following his move to Arsenal, Petrovic has been turning heads over in America.
Revs teammate DeJuan Jones has hailed Petrovic as ‘absolutely incredible’ and we will now see him make a big Premier League move.
Nottingham Forest have been keen with Wilson in charge, seemingly highlighting that the Rangers rumours were true.
However, Fabrizio Romano reports that Petrovic will sign for Chelsea on Wednesday, penning a huge seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge with the option of an eighth.
Romano claims that the deal is worth $17.5million plus another $2.2million in add-ons, taking the total value to around £15.5million.
That’s much, much more than anything Rangers would have paid for Petrovic three years ago.
Petrovic will head to Chelsea as backup to Robert Sanchez but he will have designs on becoming first-choice in West London.
That’s quite the rise for Petrovic, who seems to be one that got away for Rangers.