Rangers are on the hunt for transfer reinforcements after the club’s end of summer budget was confirmed this week.
Only, it wasn’t exactly good news as Rangers slumped out of the Champions League at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement had claimed that the club had two transfer budgets dependent on qualification for European football’s elite competition.
With Rangers automatically set to lose out on over £25m in revenue, the financial blow is severe heading into the new season.
Despite that Rangers are expected to press on in the transfer market with midfield an area of genuine concern for Philippe Clement and his staff.
Now, one cost effective Colombian midfielder who was linked to Rangers earlier in the year has been spotted training with a Premier League club amid interest from La Liga.
Alzate training at Ipswich
Colombian midfielder Steven Alzate was strongly linked with a move to Rangers in the January window.
The 25-year-old London-born midfielder had spent the season on loan at Standard Liege from Premier League Brighton and might’ve potentially cut his stint in Belgium short.
But come the end of the season, Alzate left Brighton at the end of his contract and since then has been trying to find a new club ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Now, according to Sky Sports, Steven Alzate has been spotted training for Ipswich Town as he looks to win a contract ahead of the new season.
The report claims that the ex-Leyton Orient star is also interesting teams in La Liga and Serie A, with Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Fiorentina mentioned.
Rangers hunt midfield transfer options
Rangers were strongly linked with a move for Steven Alzate in January but so far this summer there has been nothing concrete to suggest the Ibrox side are interested.
The Colombian midfielder has also been quick to reaffirm his commitment to finding an opportunity in the Premier League this summer.
Speaking in July, Alzate went on to suggest that he’d prefer a move to one of European football’s top leagues over a switch to Scotland.
“It’s never easy being out of contract,” said Alzate. “It’s the first time it’s happened to me.
“But I guess it’s also exciting and I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen.
“There’s been interest. Obviously the market is only starting to pick up now because of the Euros and the Copa America.
“At this point speaking to my agent (who is) just telling me to be patient but we both know what I want next.
“I’d love to stay in the Premier League, if not definitely a top division somewhere in Spain, Italy, Germany.
“I feel like I’ve still got a lot more to show and I’m ready.”
Rangers have been linked to a number of midfielders already this summer, with reported interest in Norwich City’s Kenny McLean and Sevilla’s Joan Jordan falling by the wayside.
Rangers have also recently been linked with a loan move for Leverkusen’s Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta but face competition from across Europe.
