Signing young players and having a successful player trading model is all about timing and Rangers will need to move fast if Petar Ratkov is on their shopping list.
The 19-year old Serbian has improved on an almost weekly basis as his confidence improves and he adapts to senior football, with high flying TSC in his country’s top flight.
As well as clever movement and assured first-time finishing, Rangers-linked Petar Ratkov has now added free-kicks to his bow, showing exactly what he would bring to Michael Beale’s side.
Scoring his 11th goal of the season, Ratkov let rip from about 25 yards out to fire high into the top left-hand corner leaving the keeper with no chance.
It’s the sort of technical ability that only Kemar Roofe possesses amongst Rangers current strikers.
Why Rangers should target Petar Ratkov
Michael Beale will be looking for at least one additional forward in the summer with the news that offers will be entertained for Antonio Colak and he will definitely be looking to replace Alfredo Morelos.
Ratkov might not be on that level yet but as a secondary striker, a partner or a backup to the main man he could be great value.
A fee previously said to be in the £2m mark has been offered for the 6ft 4inch tall hitman already with Parma and Anderlecht rumoured to be interested too.
This is exactly the sort of gamble that Rangers need to take if we are to have genuine success in the transfer market and improve the squad.
Ratkov hasn’t come from nowhere, he is a youth international and has now been playing senior football for two seasons.
His form in the second half of 22/23 shows that he is on track to be his country’s next big star and whoever signs him will be getting a bargain.
If the likes of Josh Maja or Jean-Phillipe Krasso can be signed on free transfers, bringing in Ratkov for a big fee makes more sense.
He might be young but, as we’ve seen in recent weeks, he is already a more consistent finisher than what we have and will make his next club a fortune.
Hopefully, that club is Rangers.
