Glasgow Rangers chiefs Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement solely dipped into the market to make one imminent addition to the aspect within the January switch window.
The Mild Blues bosses determined that they wanted to bolster their choices on the coronary heart of the defence and opted to finish a deal to convey Rafael Fernandes in on mortgage from Lille till the tip of the season.
Sadly, the 22-year-old gem made his full debut on a vastly disappointing day for the membership, as they lost 1-0 to Championship aspect Queen’s Park at Ibrox.
It was not all the way down to his efficiency, nevertheless, because the Portuguese expertise was not at fault for the objective or one of many gamers tasked with breaking down the opposition’s defence.
Rangers’ centre-back pursuit in January
Fernandes, although, was not the one central defender who was linked with a transfer to Ibrox through the latest January switch window, because the Gers seemingly thought-about a variety of choices.
A number of UK-based choices had been linked with Rangers. Norwich Metropolis centre-back Grant Hanley was touted with a return to the membership he frolicked within the academy at, solely to finish up signing for Birmingham Metropolis as an alternative.
It was additionally claimed that the Gers board had been keen to seal a swoop for Manchester United’s veteran centre-back Jonny Evans, however he remained at Outdated Trafford.
Additional afield, Rangers reportedly made a bid to convey Niko Katic again to Ibrox from FC Zurich, just for him to finish up signing for Plymouth Argyle within the English Championship.
Katic, who made 59 appearances for the Mild Blues, was bought to Zurich by former Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the summertime of 2022 and that could be a determination that the membership should now remorse.
Why Rangers ought to remorse promoting Niko Katic
The Scottish giants should remorse promoting the Bosnia worldwide for a number of causes. Firstly, they had been reportedly serious about bringing him again to the membership final month, which means that it was a mistake to do away with him within the first place.
They want cowl within the centre-back place and, maybe, holding Katic at Ibrox would have meant that that they had the required depth in that space of the pitch.
Additionally, the 28-year-old star’s efficiency in opposition to Liverpool within the FA Cup for Plymouth final weekend exhibits that he’s additionally a top-quality centre-back who may have been starring for Rangers proper now.
Arne Slot chosen a Reds entrance three that included reported £49m signing Luis Diaz, £45m signing Diogo Jota, and £12.5m signing Federico Chiesa – £106.5m price of expertise.
|
Niko Katic |
Vs Liverpool |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Objectives conceded |
0 |
|
Clearances |
17 |
|
Blocks |
3 |
|
Duels gained |
5/6 |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, although, Katic dominated these Liverpool attackers all through the match to maintain a clear sheet and progress by way of to the following spherical of the FA Cup.
These statistics present that the Plymouth star has the standard to step up and be a defensive “mountain”, as he was as soon as described by Steven Gerrard, when his workforce wants him.
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The Glasgow Rangers ought to lastly transfer on from the midfielder on the finish of the season.
Due to this fact, Rangers ought to remorse promoting Katic again in 2022 as they’ve gone on to overlook him, given their curiosity within the defender final month, and he’s now thriving in England along with his new membership.
