Brighton defender Leon Balogun could be an inspired addition to Rangers’ squad after a superb loan spell at Wigan, the Latics’ former recruitment analyst Dougie Wright has told the Press Association, via NewsChain.
Talk about a transfer rumour coming straight out of the blue.
32-year-old Balogun is now a free agent after his contract at the Amex expired but, according to reports from OwnGoalNigeria, a man with 31 international caps to his name should not be on the breadline for long.
Rangers are set to make the former Bundesliga ace their latest summer signing, with an unveiling expected to take place in Glasgow over the next few days.
Balogun will move to Ibrox after perhaps his best run of form on English shores too.
The Nigerian powerhouse was a revelation during 11 games on loan at Wigan Athletic, helping to keep six clean sheets while impressing not just with his reading of the game and leadership skills, but also his ability to turn defence into attack with those rangy, marauding runs.
And Wright, a recruitment analyst who worked for Wigan until the crisis-hit club was plunged into administration and relegated thanks to a 12-point deduction, is backing Balogun to continue his inspirational displays north of the border.
“Is he the missing ingredient that (Steven Gerrard) has been looking for? Potentially, yes. Looking back, I don’t think there was a better centre-back in the Championship than Leon last season,” Wright says.
“He was so comfortable and absolutely strolled it. He made those around him better by how good he was. He was very composed in possession, could play left or right side at centre-half and brings the ball out really well.
“He’s very intelligent in terms of his positioning. He will win most aerial duels just because he knows exactly where the ball will go.
“He has good recovery pace so you can’t really play it in behind him and in terms of his discipline, the last time I checked at the start of July he hadn’t committed a single foul by that point at Wigan.”
A commanding presence on the pitch, Balogun is also very well-spoken off it with his brazen honesty earning him the respect of fans and neutrals alike.
“He’s a brilliant guy, very intelligent, very articulate and popular in the dressing room,” Wright adds.
With Balogun available for absolutely nothing, Rangers might be on the verge of one of the summer’s most inspired signings.
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