As Rangers step up their preparations for the January transfer window, the early signs suggest that a new winger is high on Philippe Clement’s wishlist.
With Vaclav Cerny’s future beyond this season uncertain – the Czech Republic international is only at Ibrox on loan from VFL Wolfsburg – and both Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes struggling with injury, a handful of talented widemen have been linked with a winter switch to Glasgow.
Peterborough United’s Kwame Poku is a Rangers target, Rangers News can exclusively confirm.
However, with a hamstring injury likely to keep Poku out of action until March – as confirmed by Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson – Rangers may have reservations about adding another body to their treatment room.
Malaysian Super League starlet Arif Aiman Hanapi is a more left-field option, meanwhile. And then there is Oguz Aydin.
According to French publication Le Courrier Europeen, Rangers are looking at a Fenerbahce forward who, ironically, all-but spelled the end for Ryan Kent’s time in Turkey when he joined Jose Mourinho’s outfit in a £5 million deal from Alanyaspor in the summer transfer window.
Rangers face an uphill battle after Cardiff City suffered Oguz Aydin disappointment
The comparisons with Kent, a title winner under Steven Gerrard at Ibrox, are obvious.
Aydin, after all, is another right footed left winger who likes to cut in from the flank. Or, at least, that is how Fenerbahce see him.
At Alanyaspor, the Dutch-born 24-year-old was more frequently used on the right-hand side. And, producing 13 goals and eight assists in all competitions before joining forces with Jose Mourinho, Aydin is clearly pretty capable of wreaking havoc on either wing.
Given that Rangers appear to be prioritising versatile operators able to fill a variety of roles, Aydin would fit in pretty nicely alongside Nedim Bajrami, Dujon Sterling and co.
Rangers are reportedly targeting Marko Soldo too, a £2.5 million-rated all-action midfielder who has blossomed since transitioning from a defensive destroyer to an advanced box-crasher at NK Osijek.
Rangers appear to be fighting an uphill battle in pursuit of Aydin, however.
The quicksilver 24-year-old is only a few months into a contract which runs until 2028, after all. Former Cardiff City coach Erol Bulut confirms that he tried to lure Aydin to the UK before Fenerbahce got their man, meanwhile, and he is now confident that a long career at the Turkish Super Lig challengers awaits.
“I tried to take Oguz Aydin to Cardiff when he was playing for Alanyaspor,” Bulut, a Turkey Under 21 international in his playing days, says in conversation with BeIN Sports. “But it was not possible.
“When Jose Mourinho gave him the chance, he showed what he could do. I think he is a quality football player. I think he will contribute to Fenerbahce for many years.”
Jose Mourinho hails Oguz Aydin’s Fenerbahce rise
Mourinho, meanwhile, appears in no mood to give up on Aydin so early.
At the start of this month, the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager could not speak highly enough about the improvements Aydin has made to his game. After playing only one minute in Fenerbahce’s first eight league games of 2024/25, Aydin has now started each of the last three.
And, with three goals and an assist during that run, he will now take some shifting from Jose’s XI.
“He is a good player. Physically, tactically and very intelligent,” Mourinho said, via Marca. “We brought him in at the last minute. I asked him to give me time. He was not ready [to start from the off] but, after four or five months, he has reached an optimal level.
“I am very happy for him.”
