Rangers were close on signing Pedro Caixinha’s former player Rashid Sumaila but now Wolverhampton Wanderers appear to be leading the chase.
Pedro Caixinha looked set for a reunion with his former Al-Gharafa centre-back Rashid Sumaila at Rangers this summer.
According to the Daily Record, signing the Ghanaian international was one of Caixinha’s first priorities when he took over at Ibrox in May with the 24-year-old’s representative even confirming that Sumaila would jump at the chance to work with the Portuguese manager once again.
By the time June rolled around, however, the deal was dead. GhanaSoccerNet reported that Sumaila’s move to Scotland fell through due to ‘complications’.
Though the six-time international, who spent last season on loan at Al-Gharafa from Kuwaiti outfit Qadsia SC, could still be on his way to Britain after all.
And while Rangers may be one of the most successful and historic clubs in Europe, a winter move to the English second tier may be a more beneficial proposition for a centre-back who has been in imperious form this season for Qadsia.
More Mendes magic?
After all, Wolves are not your typical lower league club. They are bankrolled by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, enjoy a cosy relationship with well-connected super-agent Jorge Mendes (below), and are managed by a former Valencia and Porto boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Did we mention that they are one point off the top of the Championship and, in Ruben Neves and Atletico Madrid loanee Diogo Jota, boast arguably the two best players in the entire division?
Wolves are going places and fast while Rangers, for all their summer investment, still appear to be lightyears away from Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Sumaila, then, could be playing Premier League football with Wolves rather than fighting to be the ‘best of the rest’ in Scotland’s one-team league.
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