As is often the case when news of a takeover breaks, reports of American investment at Ibrox had the Rangers faithful dreaming of a brighter future.
As former Rangers striker Gordon Dalziel puts it, the San Francisco 49ers could be the key to challenging Celtic at the summit of Scottish football again.
Kris Boyd thinks the whole of the Premiership would benefit, meanwhile, from added capital and added intrigue. With Hearts, Hibernian and Aberdeen potentially on the up again, this is – Boyd argues – an ‘exciting time for Scottish football’.
Could Rangers find themselves pursuing an all-new class of player with Paraag Marathe and Red Bull on board? Could Vaclav Cerny become a permanent member of the squad?
According to reports from Germany, Rangers currently can’t afford Wolfsburg’s asking price for the popular loanee. Cerny is valued in the region of £7 million. After the heartbreak of losing Malik Tillman and Abdallah Sima in successive summers, could lightning be about to strike for a third time?
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Rangers linked with Malaysia star Arif Aiman Hanapi amid Vaclav Cerny doubts
Now, a number of potential Cerny replacements have emerged via the media.
Rangers could go in for Joe Gelhardt again over the next few months. Particularly with the 49ers bringing a Leeds United connection north of the border.
The club’s recruitment policy in recent times, however, has placed extra emphasis on left-field additions from far flung destinations. See Arif Aiman Hanapi, for instance, the explosive right-winger banging in the goals for Johor Darul Ta’zim in his native Malaysia.
In 35 games for a club commonly known as JDT, he has a highly-impressive 18 goals and 14 assists this season. Hanapi followed up those Rangers links with a ‘sensational’ hat-trick back in December too, one thumping drive from long-range the sort of finish Cerny has produced numerous times during spells in Scotland and the Netherlands.
Hanapi speaks out as he makes it clear transfer is not a priority
However, speaking to Lumi News, Hanapi insists he is not a man in a rush. At the age of just 22, he is happy enough staying put for the time being.
Europe can wait.
“My long-term goal is to continue to improve the quality of my game and continue to play at the highest level for JDT,” Hanapi explains, feeling that he is not quite ready to make the next step in his young career.
“I need to keep working hard to be where I am today. I think my level is still not enough, so I will continue to try and aim for a higher level.
“My dream since I was little was to become a successful soccer player. So far, I have received great support, especially from my parents, who have supported me and prayed for my success since I was little.
“The Sultan of Johor has been very supportive and played a role in my development at JDT as well.
“I will continue to work hard because my mentality is to always improve myself. My heroes and role models are my family members who always support me.”
In a worst-case scenario, the San Francisco 49ers fail to get a takeover over the line, Rangers find themselves hamstrung again in the transfer market and Vaclav Cerny returns to Wolfsburg.
Should this nightmare situation occur, it seems Rangers will not even be able to console themselves with one of the brightest attacking talents outside of the European game.
