FC Koln’s Salih Ozcan and Rafael Santos Borre of River Plate have been linked with a move to Ibrox in this transfer window, but recent development suggests that they may not make the switch to Rangers this summer.
Rangers wanted to continue on their success after winning the League last season and the entirety of it depended on what new additions the club make in the summer. Salih Ozcan and Rafael Santos Borre were key transfer targets for the Gers, but they are set to be dealt with a major blow as reports suggest that both the players are looking to stay put at their present clubs as new contracts are being offered.
Salih Ozcan was heavily linked with a move away from FC Koln with no new contract offered to him, but things have changed quickly at the German club. Koln are now ready to offer him a new contract under the new coach Steffen Baumgart who made the 23-year-old change his mind and stay at the club. Jorg Jakobs, the sporting director of FC Koln said:
“Talks are ongoing, both sides can well imagine. Now we have to see if we can reach an agreement.”
Ozcan had interests from several Bundesliga clubs, while Turkish giants Besiktas also kept close tabs on the youngster, but this impacts Steven Gerrard and Rangers the most, who were looking for new additions to the squad.
However, the Glasgow giants will keep a close watch on the situation as there has been no official agreement between the player and the club yet. But, they will have to decide whether to stay put on the German youngster or turn their eyes towards other prospects in the transfer market as time is not on their side.
It’s seemingly a similar story on the other side of the world, another key transfer target for Rangers, River Plate’s Rafael Santos Borre, is set to follow the same route. The Colombian had been linked with a move to Ibrox after he was out of contract at his current club, but it looks like the Colombian may stay put after all. The Argentinian giants are looking to re-sign him by offering him a new contract with double wages.
The Colombian international has scored a total of 56 goals for River Plate. He also had his taste of European football with a move to Atletico Madrid and then a loan spell at Villarreal in LaLiga, but the move did not go well for the player and Atletico lost €1m when they sold him back to River Plate in 2017.
The Colombian international has featured for his National side twice in Copa America 2021, but so far has drawn blank in front of the goal. Considering the fact how his spells with European clubs turned out, he would want to stay put at his current club, who are offering him a better wage deal. This new deal will also include a release clause with a hefty price tag which may not be suitable for Rangers.
Gers so far have not been that active in the transfer market. Although Rangers are being linked with several players, they have not managed to pull out a marquee transfer as such that many had expected. With Salih Ozcan and Rafael Santos set to stay at their clubs, rangers duo seem unlikely to be the ones to lead the Bears in their first season back in the Champions League in a decade.
The Glasgow giants need to up their ante if they want to get hold of their transfer targets. With Celtic moving aggressively in the transfer market, Rangers need to shift a gear. Rangers so far have only landed Fashion Sakala from Belgian side KV Oostende along with Nnamdi Ofoborh and Jack Simpson on a bossman and would want to add more new faces at Ibrox this summer in anticipation of their Champions League challenge this season.
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