Rangers-linked Nigerian forward Bright Osayi-Samuel has started a pre-season friendly for Turkish club Fenerbahce amid links to Ibrox.
The Gers have been extensively linked to Bright, 23, ever since the player’s time at Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship.
With his contract running down in January, Osayi-Samuel signed a pre-contract deal at Estadio Şükrü Saracoğlu before the move was made permanent in the winter window.
However, things have not gone quite to plan for Bright at the Turkish Super Lig side and there’s been much speculation regarding his future this window.
The most recent reports coming out of Turkey have suggested that both Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic are keen on the right-sided attacker.
Journalist Tâlha Arslan would then claim that Rangers have entered “formal bids” for the player.
An estimation of the amount allegedly offered wasn’t provided but earlier this summer Fotospor suggested Fener value him at £3m.
But before Gers fans get too excited about the potential of an imminent deal, the player started Fenerbahce’s 3-1 pre-season victory over Giresunspor.
The Nigerian-born winger played at right wingback for Vítor Pereira’s side, something which suggests he is very much in the manager’s plans ahead of next season.
Despite all those exit reports, Osayi-Samuel played 19 times for Fenerbahce last season, scoring once and making one goal.
Given the consistent links to the attacker, a move for Samuel might not come as too big a surprise to fans but the player’s inclusion in a pre-season friendly may well cool any excitement for now.
Rangers have also been handed a boost in the pursuit of another Ibrox-linked target as a team of transfer rivals appear to look elsewhere.
