CYRIEL DESSERS left Rangers on deadline day to seal a move to one of Rangers’ Champions League rivals.
But while the Nigerian headed to Panathinaikos, it’s being claimed that the Light Blues had their eyes on a fellow countryman to take his place – who plays for ANOTHER European foe.
3
3
Rangers have a new-look frontline since the transfer window closed on Monday night, with Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti replacing Hamza Igamane and Dessers.
The Ibrox club spared no expense when they went back into the market for the two forwards as Chermiti became their most expensive signing since Tore Andre Flo.
But £8million Chermiti and the former Aberdeen hitman were just two of the many strikers on Russell Martin’s shortlist with Igamane and Dessers’ future up in the air.
Gers were linked with Dor Turgeman, Matija Frigan and Jamie Vardy among others throughout the window.
read more rangers stories
Now it’s being suggested that Martin was a fan of a striker who scored against his side in the Champions League qualifiers this summer.
Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed Rangers were looking to sign Viktoria Plzen forward Rafiu Durosinmi before they landed Chermiti and Miovski.
The Nigerian, 22, scored the opener for the Czech outfit in the second leg to reduce the deficit to just two goals following Rangers’ electric performance in the first meeting.
He proved to be Viktoria Plzen’s dangerman and caused the Rangers’ backline all sorts of problems with his height and physicality and impressive hold-up play.
And clearly Gers boss Martin was impressed with his performance as Galetti states that the Govan club had a bid rejected for the frontman during the window.
It’s unclear when the bid was submitted and the fee involved, but he reports that it was made this summer and it didn’t meet Viktoria Plzen’s asking price.
Durosinmi has just one year left on his contract and has been attracting interest from several other clubs along with Rangers.
Borussia Monchengladbach and Gent are both said to have tabled offers for him in recent weeks as well.
Gent may have been looking at the striker as a potential replacement for ex-Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu amid his big-money move to Stuttgart which collapsed.
The South Korea star was closing in on a shock £24million move to the Bundesliga before an issue was flagged during his medical and Stuttgart pulled the plug on the deal.
Durosinmi is believed to be on the radar of Saudi and Turkish teams and could still head for the exit door in the coming days.
Turkish clubs have until September 12 to get their business done, while Saudi sides have a little longer as their window closes on September 23.
3
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
