Think of it as the Rangers star’s signature move. Vaclav Cerny’s party piece.
As the Wolfsburg loanee opened his account for Philippe Clement’s side earlier in August, the manner of which he hit the net during that 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell will have come as no surprise to anyone who watched Vaclav Cerny’s rise to prominence in the Eredivisie.
Drifting infield from the wing, the former FC Twente talisman took the ball onto his trusty left foot and bent a picture-perfect shot into the far corner.
Call it Arjen Robben-esque, if you will.
But if Cerny is the solution to Rangers’ issues on the right-hand side, who will respond to Clement’s call on the left?
Rangers linked with Fiorentina winger Josip Brekalo
With Abdallah Sima seemingly on his way to France and Scott Wright doing little to suggest he is suited to playing on the opposite flank, links with Croatia international Josip Brekalo have emerged this week.
Still only 26, Brekalo is likely to leave Fiorentina after spending last season in his homeland on loan with Hajduk Split.
But if Glasgow is to be the next destination in the nomadic Brekalo’s globe-trotting career, what can Rangers fans expect from a player who once cost £8.5 million as a teenager and who scored seven goals in a single Bundesliga campaign for Wolfsburg back in 2020/21.
Well, like another former Die Wolfe wideman Cerny, Brekalo built his reputation upon cutting inside and whipping fierce shots into the back of the net.
A right footer who likes to cut in from the left unlike Cerny – who prefers things the other way around – Brekalo earned frequent comparisons with Bayern Munich legend Robben in his younger days.
And while he obviously won’t reach the same level as a bonafide modern-day great – Brekalo’s career has stalled a little since bursting onto the scene in Germany – a player with his game-breaking talents and his penchant for the spectacular could be a revelation in Scottish football.
An obvious upgrade on Wright, Rabbi Matondo and co.
“Josip is a very quick player, who thrives in one-on-one situations,” his one-time Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking once said, via the UEFA website. “He gives us a lot more versatility going forward.”
“I see huge potential in Josip,” now-Crystal Palace boss and 2022 Europa League winner Oliver Glasner also claimed.
Philippe Clement needs a left-winger
The official Bundesliga website, interestingly, mentioned another former Bayern ace when naming the player Brekalo most closely described.
At Wolfsburg, the 35-cap wideman showcased his talents as a scheming number ten too, drawing comparisons with Mario Gotze as a result.
“I can make use of my strengths much better than before,” Brekalo said at the time. “When I play in the middle, I can receive the ball in a central position, play it back, across or shoot myself. My shooting technique is good, and I have more options than when I play out wide.”
A feature of Clement’s recruitment drive at Rangers has been a focus on players capable of playing in a variety of different roles. See Fabio Silva, Jefte, Mohamed Diomande.
Brekalo would represent a continuation of that trend. And alongside Cerny, let him cut inside at your peril.
