Rangers will face competition from clubs in Germany and Italy if Philippe Clement hopes to bring Rapid Vienna midfielder Matthias Seidl to the Scottish Premiership this summer.
That is according to Philipp Mirtl, the Austria international’s agent opening up on his client’s future as a host of clubs across the continent send their scouts flocking to the Allianz Stadion.
HITC Football understands that Rangers are just one of a whole bucketload of suitors. Matthias Seidl is far from a household name in Glasgow, of course, but the club’s impressive track record in the transfer market during the early days of the Philippe Clement – Nils Koppen era should ensure that Rangers decision-makers will be given the benefit of the doubt if they opt to make the 23-year-old Austria international a priority this summer.
Oscar Cortes, after all, was a big hit before his recent injury. Fabio Silva and Mohamed Diomande, meanwhile, combined beautifully to set up Tom Lawrence’s opener during Thursday’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Benfica in Lisbon.
Rangers are keen on Matthias Seidl
You can usually judge a player’s quality by the extent of his suitors, and Seidl is hardly lacking in that department. HITC have been informed that, in addition to Rangers, Wolves, Leicester City, Burnley, Fulham and Old Firm rivals Celtic have watched Seidl in the flesh.
As have Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner’s assistant coach at Selhurst Park – Ronald Burnmayer – worked with Seidl at FC Blau-Weiss Linz before his switch to Rapid Vienna during the summer of 2023.
Rangers, meanwhile, will face competition not only across Glasgow and south of the border but on the other side of the Channel too.
“There are always inquiries. But Matthias is very clear and is only focused on the current season,” Mirtl tells the Salzburger Nachrichten.
“No club from Great Britain has contacted me yet. But it is clear to me that Matthias’s strong achievements will also be noticed outside of Austria. There have already been inquiries from Germany and Italy.”
Interest from England, Germany and Italy
23-year-old Seitl represents a continuation of a recent trend, Clement and Koppen targeting young, hungry and technically-gifted footballers with considerable re-sale potential. With nine goals and six assists this term, the free-scoring attacking midfielder would add extra quality and creativity to a Gers side already boasting Lawrence, Todd Cantwell and co.
“His attitude is great. A real professional,” LAOLA1 expert Sargon Duran explains of a man who was named the Player of the Season in Austria’s second-tier in 2022/23.
“Seidl’s game looks easy, but it’s not. He is a very intelligent player with fine technique, who recognises the spaces, passes the balls well and is ice-cold in front of the goal.”
