Rangers fans have had one eye on news coming out of Saudi Arabia for the duration of the summer transfer window to date.
The Middle Eastern nation burst into life last summer when the Saudi-state backed Public Investment Fund started bankrolling megabucks transfers at some of its biggest clubs.
The idea is to attract the biggest names in global football with an Arabian fortune and so far the Saudi plan has made an impact on the world game.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar and ex-Rangers star Fashion Sakala all making the move, there is plenty of eyes and plenty of interest on where the league goes from here.
This summer the spending is not excepted to be quite as extravagant as the £700m+ spent last season (Sky Sports).
But with FFP limitations and tight transfer budgets stretched across Europe, clubs everywhere are hoping to bank a fortune as the PIF moves into phase two of the Saudi football investment plan.
As of the 17th of July, the Saudi Pro League transfer window is officially open and even Rangers have an interest with no fewer than three Ibrox stars linked to the nation.
Could Saudi cash sort Rangers cash flow?
Ibrox manager Philippe Clement has been clear that that Rangers will need to sell before they can buy this summer.
Couple that with the European Championships and Copa America, and essential Rangers transfer business has been forcibly stuffed into an uncomfortable period of the window.
Whilst the club have made six new additions, Rangers are frighteningly short of experienced starters and with the Champions League qualifiers looming large, expectations are rising.
There are as many as seven Rangers players linked to the exit door but with the Saudi window officially opening interest in three players in particular can now officially be settled.
The sooner the better too.
If Rangers need cashflow into the club this summer in order to ramp up their business, then the Saudi Pro League is not a bad place to start.
Three Rangers stars linked to Saudi transfer
There has been plenty of Saudi Arabian transfer chatter surrounding Rangers this summer.
The loudest has been around Rangers leadership pair James Tavernier and Connor Goldson, who’ve both been linked with a move to the Middle East.
Tavernier in particular is known to be interesting teams in Saudi whilst Goldson has been linked with joining the Rangers captain at Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.
The former Ibrox manager has been clear he wants experience this window and all eyes will be on whether Stevie G launches what would be a first raid on Ibrox since leaving the club in 2021.
Whilst Philippe Clement has cooled the exit talk around Tav and Goldson recently, the situation with both players will continue to bubble away whilst the window is open.
The Gers captain and vice-captain also aren’t the only Rangers players being linked with a move to Saudi either.
Seemingly wantaway midfielder Todd Cantwell saw a transfer appeal leaked via a parody Instagram account earlier in the window.
Clement sat down with Cantwell face-to-face in the Netherlands and the midfielder’s absence from pre-season to date has the Rangers rumour mill spinning.
Ex-Norwich star Cantwell was linked with a move to Saudi earlier in the summer and perhaps such a sale could generate the sorts of money Rangers need to kick their transfer window into gear.
