Rangers, Celtic and Hull City are among a host of clubs keen on securing the services of Zinedin Smajlovic this summer.
The 22-year-old centre-back is currently plying his trade at Norwegian club Sandefjord.
Smajlovic’s contract at the Jotun Arena runs out at the end of the 2027/28 season, leaving his club with the negotiating power this summer.
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Celtic have made the first move towards signing the Swedish defender, as they have made a £5.6m bid, according to Rudy Galetti.
The deal includes an initial offer of £3.9m along with £1.7m in add-ons to sweeten the deal for Sandefjord.
The Hoops have made their intentions clear as they are the first ones to make an offer ahead of the chasing pack.
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Along with the Gers and Hull, the likes of Lyon, Olympiacos, Fenerbahce and Toulouse are all tracking the centre-back.
Rangers have also made an enquiry towards signing Smajlovic and will now decide if they want to go head-to-head with their arch rivals in a transfer saga.
The Light Blues are looking to bolster their defence, and Rangers News understands that they could even sign four new defenders over the course of this transfer window.
How can Derek McInnes look to get the best out of Smajlovic at Ibrox
Derek McInnes knows that if he is to win the league at Rangers next season, he needs to build a strong defensive foundation.
If the Ibrox outfit succeed in signing Smajlovic, they will be bringing in someone who is physically strong as well as being very good in the air.
The 22-year-old is also composed with the ball and good at building out from the back and progressing the ball through the thirds.
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He would become the starting centre-back at the Light Blues, partnering Emmanuel Fernandez at the back.
McInnes would also make him the focal point at set pieces, giving opposition defenders a tough time in deciding who to man mark.
In many ways, the Norwegian defender is an ideal defender for the Rangers manager, and it could be a match made in heaven if the deal goes through.
