RANGERS’ quest to reach the Champions League ramps up a notch this week as they face Panathinaikos again.
Alongside that, the quest to bolster the squad at Ibrox continues on as well!
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Rangers are in Athens to take on Panathinaikos in the second leg of their second qualifying round encounter.
The Gers have a 2-0 lead from the first leg thanks to Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama striking a couple of crackers last week.
Russell Martin will, of course, be hoping to lead his team to the next around and he’ll be hoping to call upon some new faces if he gets them there.
The Light Blues are in the market for wingers and they’re currently chasing THREE players in that position.
The Gers boss will also be keen to move players OUT of his bloated squad – and there could be movement right around the corner.
SunSport’s sports content editor David Friel and reporter Andy Devlin – on location in Greece – have all the latest.
MIKEY MOORE
Andy Devlin
It’s pretty close. I think the issue Rangers had in the last 48 hours was just convincing Spurs that Ibrox was the right place for him to go to.
Spurs until eight hours ago weren’t entirely sure whether they wanted the young lad to go out on loan anywhere, he’s so highly rated.
He’s only 17, there will be a lot of expectation, a lot of pressure.
You just look at the testimonies about him, his ability, Ange Postecolgou rates him so highly.
There’s been a lot of interest from Championship clubs in him as well but it’s looking like Rangers are in the box seat to secure his signature which would be on a season long loan with no option to buy because the boy has an obvious future at Tottenham, it’s another exciting signing for the Ranges support.
The lad himself is wanting the move to Rangers. Championship wont give him European football, Rangers will do that.
He’s had some appearances last season for Spurs in run to the Europa League Final, 21 in total, so not as if he hasn’t played first team football. He’s used to that environment.
He is one that despite his age, he will be ready to come in and play a part in the Rangers team.
David Friel
It looks as if it’ll be Rangers, he’s a really interesting player, a special talent.
As Andy says, you only have to see how much Ange Postecoglou admired him.
After a game in Europe, James Maddison compared him to Neymar in terms of his dribbling skills.
With certain players, their development comes at different times. I think Spurs feel his development is fast tracked to the extent there’s no point in him coming on for five/ten minutes here and there every other Premier League game.
They want him to play meaningful football, at a good level, under scrutiny and he’ll get that at Rangers.
I get the risk – it’s a first loan for him, he’s a young player, sometimes it’s eays ot burst onto the scene and make that impact.
I wouldn’t expect absolute miracles from Mikey Moore immediately but he can help Rangers and Rangers can help him.
Russell Martin has a track record of working with young players. I think it’s a good fit.
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OLIVER ANTMAN
David Friel
He’s got an interesting background, good experience, has been playing really well in Holland.
He has taken a bit of a strange route, he’s had a couple of knock-backs in his career, he’s gone for moves, he’s a product of Nordsjaelland system – Diomande, Nygren, they’re really good at developing players.
He went to Groningen on loan, he’s come back and ended up going to Go Ahead Eagles for just over £1million which for Go Ahead Eagles is a lot of money, at that time I think he was one of their record signings.
He’s really done well, good experience with the Finnish national team as well.
He’s a player who I think would be a shrewd one, it’d be a permanent move as well.
If Rangers can get the balance between getting these loans in they can feel benefit the team but then getting the long-term signings that you want to build your team around for the next few years and that one ticks the box.
JESURUN RAK-SAKYI
David Friel
I think it might be one Rangers need to be a bit patient with.
Crystal Palace’s stance, by all accounts, is that they are probably somewhere down the line open to a loan move for him but they would rather just sell him now.
If the money being talked about – £10million – I can’t really see Rangers sanctioning that for Rak-Sakyi.
I don’t think any of the noises coming from Rangers is that they would entertain that or even try to go to that.
I wonder if it’s a bit of wait and see with Rak-Sakyi.
Clearly Russell Martin has been talking about how much he admires him, he clearly wants him in.
I don’t think this is dependent on the other wings that we’ve spoken about – Gassama’s in the door, they want Antman, they’re very close to Mikey Moore – but I think it’s just another winger that Russell Martin wants.
Clearly he wants options. If you look at the modern game, the front three tends to change after an hour.
You basically use six forwards in every game and Rangers have got so many games.
Rak-Sakyi is one Rangers have clearly targeted but they might need to be a bit patient with how it pans out and what other interest comes in.
If Palace do get the permanent bid he’ll probably go elsewhere but Rangers are clearly in the conversation and all the noises are that he’d be quite keen to come to Rangers, I think he’s excited about what Russell Martin is doing.
I’d never, ever rule that out.
I think Rangers are right in the mix but it might depend on what other clubs go.
I think Russell Martin will look at the formation he plays, you would want four strong wingers.
That’s before we even talk about guys like Oscar Cortes who’s still there.
I think he’s looking at it and being quite ambitious, for me.
It might even end up being two loans – for Moore and Rak-Sakyi.
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KIERAN DOWELL
David Friel
I think there’s a wait and see element with Rangers being successful being in that attacking area.
I think Russell Martin’s been quite clever in the sense that he’s looked at the squad, looked at Dowell’s experience and clearly knows the player, and he’s thinking ‘I’m going to need him for these qualifiers at the very least.’
I think he’s been quite clever to say to Kieran Dowell ‘let’s just see how things go, do as well as you can, I’m going to give you a pivotal role for these next few weeks, I really need you.’
Long term, do I think Kieran Dowell is the answer for Rangers?
No, I think the last few years have probably just damaged his reputation with the fans because it’s never really worked out.
He’ll always start on that negative point.
He would probably say he’s not had that many chances, or a prolonged run in the team.
He’s just got so much to prove and he’d have to play so well to win the fans over that long term I don’t think he’s going to be the answer.
In the short term, Rangers probably need that experience.
CONOR COADY
It’s not looking likely but I would never say never on it.
We spoke about moving parts, it’s probably the same with what are Leicester going to do?
It goes back to wages, the fee, all sorts of stuff.
I’d never say never but the longer it goes on I wonder if Rangers really are starting to look elsewhere.
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