While any suggestions that a £4 million midfielder could end up at Rangers this month have already dwindled, a long-term injury is most certainly the final nail in the proverbial coffin.
As the weeks have passed, it has become increasingly apparent that Rangers will be pursuing short-term, low-cost additions rather than anything more wallet-busting.
Rafael Fernandes arrives at Rangers on a temporary basis from Lille. And, if Philippe Clement’s side are to add a midfielder or an attacker to their ranks between now and deadline day, that player in question is likely to arrive in a similar sort of arrangement.
Rangers are leading the race for Dundee’s Lyall Cameron. His contract at Dens Park expires in the summer, opening the door for a bargain switch to Ibrox on a fee similar to the one paid to Aberdeen for Connor Barron a year previously.
So, while some would consider the £4 million release clause in Darius Olaru’s contract a bargain, if Rangers cannot afford the £2.5 million required for Marko Soldo, then they certainly cannot stump up nearly twice as much for the FCSB captain.
Darius Olaru faces five month injury lay off to end Rangers links
Olaru is unlikely to changing hands for the time being now anyway.
The Romania international suffered a serious injury as the club formerly known as Steaua Bucharest beat Hamburg 2-1 in a friendly on January 10th. One that, according to the doctor who performed the operation, could keep Olaru out of action until June.
“March is a bit early [for Olaru to return],” says Ion Andrei Popescu. “For high-performance athletes, the indication is five months [on the sidelines].
FCSB’s always-outspoken president is a little more positive. Gigi Becali hopes to have Olaru back before the end of the current campaign, while admitting that a reluctance to go under the knife could have led to more serious complications later down the line.
“Olaru is having surgery. He will be out for three months,” an optimistic Becali tells Fanatik. “He had the option not to have surgery, but I convinced him.
“The doctor said that, if he has surgery now, he won’t have any problems. If he leaves it like this and relapses, it will be difficult. It may affect his career.
“We will miss him, but let him come back in three months [to help us] qualify for the Champions League.”
Neil Lennon was worried about Rangers bringing Olaru to Ibrox
Becali, after captaining FCSB to the Romanian league title last term, had notched 15 goals and seven assists from 22 matches until suffering that potential season-ending injury against Hamburg.
Agent Giovanni Becali spoke out about his client’s future a few weeks ago. He feels that Darius Olaru could end up in the American MLS rather than move elsewhere in Europea.
“Olaru remains the same player courted by several clubs,” Becali said. “We’ll see if it’s possible in January. [Make a bid of] five million euros, and he’ll leave.
“Maybe America…”
Neil Lennon will be relieved to learn that Rangers’ reported interest is coming to nothing. The Celtic legend spent a brief spell in charge of Rapid Bucharest recently, and felt Darius Olaru would have been a transformative addition at Rangers.
“Darius Olaru, he is a very good player,” Lennon explained. “He would certainly make Rangers better, but Celtic are very strong and playing great at the moment.”
