Eyal Berkovic has tipped Rangers-linked Israel wonderkid Oscar Gloukh to leave current side Maccabi Tel Aviv for as low as £3m this summer.
The legendary former Israeli international, who had an ill-fated £5.75m stint at Celtic at the turn of Millennium, was speaking amid much hype surrounding the 18-year-old playmaker.
Oscar Gloukh stole the show at the recent European U19s Championship and even helped Israel to the tournament’s Final, scoring in the 2-1 defeat to England.
The kid also broke through into the Maccabi Tel Aviv side at the tail end of last season and despite his young years was a regular difference maker in high profile clashes.
Since then there have been plenty of links surrounding the talented attacking midfielder, who was first linked to Rangers by Israel-based Heart & Hand podcaster Andy Barnett [Transfers Show].
Rangers-linked Oscar Gloukh available at knock-down price?
Oscar Gloukh appeared to be priced out of a move to Ibrox when it was claimed he could cost £10m with top European sides such as Spurs, Dortmund, and Roma also keen suitors.
But now Eyal Berkovic is convinced that figure is pie in the sky and has tipped the talented youngster to move on for a knockdown £3m in the weeks to come.
This comes amid a serious dispute between the player’s father and Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Vladimir Ivic over the fact Gloukh only played a handful of minutes in Maccabi’s recent 3-0 Europa Conference League qualifying victory over Zira FC.
“A month ago, at the European Youth Championship, the star was Oscar Gloukh. On Thursday, he played for two minutes. Tell me, Maccabi, are you crazy?” Says Berkovic [Sport 5].
“We want Oscar Gloukh in Europe. Maccabi Tel Aviv refuses to sell him because of a price tag of 8 or 10 million euros. (But) I believe he will be sold for 3-4 million.
“I don’t have a problem with him playing half or half an hour. But what is two minutes for a kid who is the future of the club?
“Of all the 18 players of Maccabi Tel Aviv, there is no room for Oscar Gloukh?
“It is the club’s job to intervene. (They have) the authority to tell Ivic that there is a talented kid here, that they want the club to be built around a player who grew up in academy. If not, then the manager should go.
“Maccabi Tel Aviv does not have such good players that there is no place for Gloukh. The whole country was on its feet because of him, and in Maccabi Tel Aviv he does not play.
“We need to wake up before it’s too late. He needs to play.”
As the drama builds surrounding Oscar Gloukh, Rangers may well have one eye on the situation but it’s clear if they want the youngster they won’t be the only suitors.
But having convinced one top young talent to make the switch to Ibrox, whose to say the Ibrox club can’t do the same with the young Israeli wonderkid?
