Michael Beale wants to get his summer transfer work done early but, if Tasos Douvikas is to be a Rangers player, he might have to blow a lot of his budget in one go.
The Utrecht striker has been in fine form this season and it is little wonder that the 23-year old is going to be on the move this summer.
Any chance of a bargain swoop look to be over though after reliable Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos revealed that Tasos Douvikas will cost Rangers a fortune and has a €10m price tag on his head.
Even if Rangers manage to fill other key roles with free transfers, £10m on one player is a lot of money with no guarantees of success, even if he did score 22 goals this season.
When Celtic signed Odsonne Edouard for a similar fee, they knew what he was capable of having had him on loan and were also in the process of making £20m for Moussa Dembele.
Why Tasos Douvikas fee might see Rangers look elsewhere
Rangers have had their fingers burnt paying £7m for Ryan Kent, who is now walking out the door, so any signings this summer of a similar value will be analysed to the minutest detail.
It is a lot of money for Michael Beale in that he could sign three or four players for the same amount if he is clever but it would also be a statement of intent if he did splash out.
Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin were acquired for little more than £3m.
These are the sort of deals Rangers have to make.
Tasos Douvikas is a good player and one that would no doubt score goals for Rangers, however, so would Josh Maja, Jean-Phillipe Krasso and Michael Olunga, all of whom are available for free.
With Alfredo Morelos leaving, Rangers fans need a new number nine that unites opinion.
A Michael Mols, a Nikica Jelavic.
A striker that is unanimously first choice as soon as he arrives and can adapt to both domestic and European football.
Douvikas could well have been that player but, for £10m, I hope Michael Beale keeps his wallet in his back pocket, for now.
