Rangers have concluded deals for no fewer than three players less than a month after suffering Scottish Cup heartbreak at Hampden Park.
This is clearly not a team wallowing in their dejection. Instead donning the belt and braces, and diving two-footedinto the transfer market in an attempt to build a squad capable of ending Celtic’s domestic stranglehold.
Jefte Vital, Oscar Cortes and Clinton Nsiala have all joined already. Three technically-gifted, young and hugely promising players who will all add depth on the left side of the pitch.
The race to be Rangers‘ fourth signing of the window, meanwhile, may be down to two clear candidates. Will Albion Rrahmani win it by a nose? Rangers, according to reports in Romania, are ‘very close’ to sealing a deal for the 19-goal striker who was such a revelation at Rapid Bucharest.
The man keeping pace with Rrahmani is Connor Barron, the Scottish Sun reporting a few days ago that Rangers were ready to step up their interest and raid rivals Aberdeen again after luring Ryan Jack and Scott Wright from Pittodrie to Ibrox.
Rangers make move for Aberdeen’s Connor Barron
Some clarity may be forthcoming in the Rrahmani deal next week. The Daily Record, meanwhile, reports that Barron will make a decision over his own future between now and June 23rd. Rangers have made a ‘strong offer’ for the out-of-contract Scotland Under 21 international.
Despite his ‘free-agent’ status, however, Rangers would have to agree a fee with Aberdeen or risk the deal going to a tribunal. Further complications arrive via the interest from Hellas Verona and Bologna. The Serie A duo are keen too. Bologna, who will be playing Champions League football next term, have enjoyed real success when raiding the Scottish Premiership in the recent past, bringing in Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson.
Offers have also been submitted by Championship quartet Swansea City, Cardiff, Stoke and a Plymouth Argyle side who’s pulling power should be boosted by the appointment of Wayne Rooney; Manchester United and England’s all-time record goalscorer.
An all-action, high-intensity central midfielder, Barron’s arrival would offset the departures of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram at Ibrox. Rangers appear keen to reduce the average age of their squad and, at 21, Barron is around a decade younger than the veteran duo.
Face Serie A and Championship battle
“Connor has a heart the size of a lion’s,” former Aberdeen boss Barry Robson said shortly after Barron’s first-team breakthrough, highlighting the ‘speed and energy’ he brought to proceedings (Press and Journal).
“He can play and he’s brave. He is not the tallest and not the biggest, but he is aggressive in the right way. Connor gets in front and will go into any challenge. He also reads the game well.
“Connor came through the youth academy and was the captain for our younger teams.
“I knew he would be positive, take the ball and be brave – do all the things you need to be a good footballer.”
Rangers could discover how Barron feels about following in Jack’s footsteps by the time Scotland take on Hungary in their final Euro 2024 group-stage fixture next Sunday.
