Rangers will have to move fast if they are to land the services of Panathanaikos skipper Dimitrios Kourbelis.
The 29-year old Greece international’s contract is up in the summer and the defensive midfield enforcer is, potentially, on the move.
Reports have surfaced via Greek media Newsit that Trabzonspor have offered terms to Rangers target Dimitris Kourbelis with Panathanaikos pulling out all the stops to persuade him to stay.
The Light Blues have been linked this year with a bid for Kourbelis with a recent scouting trip to Greece by Harry Watling likely to have been one last assessment.
Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes look like being two early additions to Michael Beale’s midfield but, as yet, only Ryan Jack can be considered as an out and out defensive midfielder.
Dimitrios Kourbelis fits this role and, given the quoted figures, on a free transfer he would be a bargain.
According to Newsit:
“The information states that the offer of last year’s champion of Turkey (which had made a move for the international Greek midfielder last summer as well) concerns a three-year contract with an annual salary of 900,000 euros (2.7 million euros over three years).
“For its part, Panathinaikos has submitted the proposal to Kourbelis a few days ago, offering him a 30% salary increase compared to his previous contract, from 500,000 euros to 650,000 euros plus goals and participation bonuses.”
Rangers could easily afford Dimitrios Kourbelis
Trabzonspor’s offer, for perspective, is less than Glen Kamara is reportedly earning at £21,000 per week.
Kourbelis would stand to earn in the region of £18,000 per week should he move to Turkey.
Should he decide to stay at Panathanaikos though, he would “only” be on £12,500 per week.
This sort of money is easily affordable for Rangers, especially if Kamara or John Lundstram were moved on.
Quality, on a free transfer, at an affordable salary, exactly the sort of experience and signing that Michael Beale needs to be making to upgrade his Rangers squad.
The only issue is, Kourbelis is set to make an announcement on his future in the next 24 hours and there has been no news of an offer from Rangers….yet.
