St Mirren are now hoping to keep hold of midfielder Keanu Baccus as links with a move to Rangers ultimately fade away.
Rangers haven’t done tons of shopping in the Scottish Premiership of late.
Only two senior players have moved from Scottish clubs to Rangers since the end of the 2019-20 season; Scott Wright and John Souttar.
Some aren’t too happy with that, believing that Rangers have missed a trick by not signing the likes of Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Porteous and Lawrence Shankland.
Rumours of Scottish Premiership players heading to Ibrox are even rare these days, with one piece of speculation fading away of late.
Rangers were linked with Keanu Baccus
The Scottish Sun reported late in December 2022 that Michael Beale had put St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus on his transfer wish list.
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Rangers were allegedly scouting Baccus for a potential move having impressed for St Mirren.
The Telegraph suggested that St Mirren would sell for just £350,000 with Baccus inside the final 18 months of his contract.
Rangers didn’t pounce in the January window and went in another direction by signing Jose Cifuentes over the summer.
We haven’t seen a Rangers link to Baccus for a while now and the fading rumours leave St Mirren hopeful of him staying put.
Baccus could now stay at St Mirren
In truth, the hype around Baccus seems to have calmed down a little in recent times.
Baccus was being praised as ‘unbelievable’ by ex-Rangers defender Craig Moore having impressed for Australia at the World Cup.
Baccus didn’t land a move though and there is a real chance that he stays with St Mirren after all.
Speaking to the Paisley Daily Express, St Mirren chairman John Needham stated that he is hoping to tie both Baccus and Ryan Strain down to new deals.
“We are speaking to the representatives of both Keanu and Ryan,” said Needham. “We are very keen to extend their current contracts because they have both been huge successes for us so far. Keanu represented Australia fantastically well at the World Cup and Ryan is working his way into the fold for his country too.”
“Ultimately the players have to do what’s best for them in their relatively short careers. We haven’t been able to agree new terms quite yet, but we’re doing all we can and would be so delighted if they did commit to another contract. What we have working in our favour now is that this squad are so together.”
“They’re happy to be part of this team, which makes players happier not to leave. If the team can keep performing as it is and stay near the top of the table, and push on in the cups, that would also likely help our case,” he added.
We can’t see Rangers going for Baccus now with St Mirren’s hopes boosted by the Ibrox rumours dying down.