For a time, this looked a sure thing.
Rangers looked destined to win the race for a forward who, like former Ibrox loanee and now £13 million PSV star Malik Tillman, found himself on his way out of Bayern Munich in search of the kind of regular first-team football the Bundesliga giants simply could not offer him.
Chris Jack of Rangers Review even said towards the end of June that Yusuf Kabadayi ‘will be a Rangers player’.
Well, nobody told FC Augsburg that.
On Wednesday morning, Kabadayi’s destination was confirmed at last. And, contrary to popular belief, he would not be on his way to Glasgow.
Rangers miss out on Yusuf Kabadayi
Fabrizio Romano, taking to X, confirms that Augsburg have paid a fee in the region of £850,000. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, have not included a buy-back option in Kabadayi’s contract.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge at FC Augsburg,” Kabayadi tells the Augsburg website after making the short trip from one Bavarian-based club to another.
“The discussions with those in charge have convinced me that I can develop optimally here, near my hometown of Munich.
“Now, it’s time for me to give it my all in preparation and earn as many minutes of playing time as possible in the Bundesliga.”
Exactly why Kabadayi did not end up at Rangers after all remains to be seen. Perhaps an answer will be provided somewhere down the line.
There is, of course, the chance that Philippe Clement’s side simply opted against pushing through a deal. Kabadayi, who spent last season on loan at Schalke in Germany’s second tier, is just one of many right-footed left wingers under consideration by the Ibrox outfit.
Oscar Cortes has already returned from RC Lens, this time with a £4 million obligation-to-buy clause in his contract. Excelsior winger Couhaib Driouech is expected to join Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven but there is some interest at Ibrox in South African starlet Relebohile Mofokeng, per the Scottish Sun.
Perhaps Rangers will opt to step up their pursuit Mofokeng later in the window, amid comparisons with both Andres Iniesta and Ronaldo. Comparisons which highlight not only Mofokeng’s vast potential, but also the sheer variety of his skillset.
Bundesliga switch confirmed for ex-Bayern Munich starlet
There is also the chance that Rangers held off on Kabadayi because they feel there is still a chance. to bring Abdallah Sima back from Brighton.
Sima’s rather cryptic social media hint – he will be back at Ibrox ‘soon’ – certainly opened some eyes.
Kabadayi, meanwhile, will be hoping to thrive, Tilman-esque, away from Bayern in 2024/25.
“With Yusuf, we are getting an up-and-coming young offensive player who has a very good basic education. With his dribbling ability, his speed runs and his physical abilities, he can be used in a variety of offensive positions,” explains Augsburg’s sporting director Marinko Jurendic.
“After his last stint in the 2.Bundesliga, Yusuf will take the next step in his development in the Bundesliga at FCA. We are looking forward to our future together and wish Yusuf a good start at FCA.”
