Stanley Nsoki appears to be Philippe Clement’s solution to Rangers’ need for a new central defender.
The Ibrox side have shifted high-earning and underwhelming centre-back Ben Davies from the club’s wage bill this week, saving around £1.4m per annum in the process.
But as Birmingham City relieve one headache, Rangers now need to go out and fill the centre-back void with only Robin Pröpper, John Souttar and an injury-prone Leon Balogun as senior options.
Rangers’ interest in Brazilian centre-back Kaiky appears to have waned and now all attentions are on Hoffenheim defender Stanley Nsoki.
But as a frantic end to the transfer window beckons, Rangers could be waiting on a crucial defensive domino to fall in Germany before any move for Nsoki can be complete.
Hoffenheim target defender amid Stanley Nsoki Gers links
French defender Stanley Nsoki ticks a lot of boxes for Rangers.
The 25-year-old played under Philippe Clement at Club Brugge and earned a €12m (£10m) move to Hoffenheim (Foot Mercato) as a result of his form in Belgium.
The last few years in Germany haven’t gone to plan for the centre-back however, with Nsoki being linked to Rangers by reports in his native France.
Those reports also come as Hoffenheim step up an impressive summer of spending heading into the final hours of the window.
The German outfit have already spent over €50m (£42m) in transfer fees having brought in Alexander Prass (Sturm Graz), Haris Tabaković (Hertha BSC), Valentin Gendrey (US Lecce), Robin Hranáč (Viktoria Plzen) and major transfer Adam Hložek (Bayer Leverkusen).
According to T-Online, the club remains on the hunt for a centre-back which is expected to bring their spending to record levels and surpass the €55m (£46.2m) Hoffenheim spent in the 19/20 season.
Reports are claiming that the Bundesliga side have already had an approach for Czech central defender Martin Vitík turned down by Sparta Prague.
This is after the Czech side qualified for the Champions League this week.
Other options include Burnley’s French defender Maxime Estève, who would cost north of €10m (£8.4m).
French defender one of four Rangers transfer targets
With Stanley Nsoki being strongly linked to Rangers, perhaps the Ibrox side are waiting for a Hoffenheim defensive domino to fall before completing a deal.
If Rangers can get the proposed loan deal to bring Nsoki into Ibrox over the line, it will represent a major boost to Philippe Clement’s squad this summer.
The Gers are looking to bring in as many as four players before Friday night’s 11pm deadline with Stanley Nsoki the leading defensive option.
With Sassuolo star Nedim Bajrami also being strongly linked as a replacement for the outgoing Todd Cantwell, there are another two positions the club needs reinforcements.
Central midfield and an experienced ‘number six’ has evaded Rangers all summer long, whilst the club remains determined to bring in another left-sided option.
