Rangers are aiming to leave no stone unturned as they look to unearth gems in the global transfer market.
Nils Koppen is heading up Rangers’ new international transfer strategy which has already seen the club recruit from Scandinavia, Brazil and even North Africa.
Croatia and the Balkans have been regions which Rangers have benefitted from extensively over the years and the experience is almost certainly mutual.
But now it appears that Rangers have missed the bus on a top young Croatian talent who’d reportedly shown up on Ibrox transfer radars this winter.
Rangers linked to two Croatia midfielders
Rangers had been linked to a couple of young Croatian midfielders towards the turn of the year.
Rangers News exclusively revealed that Marko Soldo is on the Ibrox club’s radar as Rangers look to strengthen the middle of the park.
But it’s not the young NK Osijek midfielder who is on the move this February, with fellow reported Ibrox target Leon Belcar officially leaving FK Varazdin.
Rangers were linked to Belcar by Croatian publication 24 Sata with the 23-year-old playmaker making a big impression at the heart of the Varazdin midfield.
But after Belcar signed a new contract with the Croatian First League side, any notion of a winter exit appeared to be nipped in the bud.
That is until now.
Rangers miss out on Leon Belcar
Leon Belcar has signed a late winter loan-to-buy deal with divisional rivals and Croatian’s biggest club GNK Dinamo, effectively ending any Rangers hopes of striking a deal.
The talented midfielder – who models his game on the great Zinedine Zidane – will now try to win a permanent move to the Champions League club this summer.
The move comes despite Belcar committing himself to Varazdin in January before suggesting that any transfer would be held off until the summer.
After signing a new contract, Belcar said: “Although the media reports about the interest of big European clubs are good, I’m in no hurry.
“I’m satisfied and happy in Varazdin. This is where I’m at home, this is where my heart is and we’re moving on to new victories.“
Leon Belcar spent a year training with the Dinamo Academy as a youngster and Rangers will now presumably turn their attentions to other targets.
