Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder Mirko Ivanic played 70 minutes for the Serbian side over the weekend amid high-profile links to Rangers.
The Montenegrin international, 27, is a key player for the Eastern European side and he played 70 minutes of the club’s 4-1 victory over Backa Topola in the country’s Super Liga.
Reports coming out of Serbia over the weekend had claimed that Ivanic was the subject of a €3.5m (£3m) bid from Ibrox following Red Star’s failure to make the Champions League group stages [Mozzart Sport].
Similarly to Rangers, Red Star crashed out at the QR3 stage and now face a Playoff the enter the Europa League with the Serbs defeating CFJ Cluj 4-0 in the first leg last week.
However, according to reports coming out of Serbia and seemingly originating from in the know Red Star insiders, any prospective deal could be short-lived with the player set to be offered a new deal.
Reports from the likes of Sportska Centrala and Meridan claim that “the club wants to keep Ivanic at all costs, offering him a new contract”.
Ivanic’s stats from last season certainly give an insight into why the Gers are reportedly interested in the player.
The attacking midfielder or forward scored 20 goals and laid on 16 assists in 48 games in all competitions, with his 16 goals in the Serbian Super League helping his side to 108 points.
Like Rangers last season, Red Star went the full campaign unbeaten and Ivanic was the crown jewel in a very impressive squad performance in the last camapign.
As we enter the final week of the transfer window fans will have one eye on prospective deals for the likes of Ivanic but time is running out to secure a move ahead of this season.
Meanwhile, a team of Scottish Premiership rivals have been boosted by the signing of a once Rangers-linked Premier League attacker.
