Rangers already have a host of centre backs heading into next season – but now they’re being linked with another one.
Aftonbladet in Sweden report that Rangers are eyeing up Elfsborg defender Joseph Okumu, plotting to lure him over to Scotland in case Filip Helander leaves.
Aston Villa and Leicester City are thought to be keen on signing Helander, and Rangers are looking to the Allsvenskan if they need to replace the Swedish ace.
Okumu isn’t a household name; the 23-year-old had spells in his native Kenya before heading to the United States with Real Monarchs, then Elfsborg in 2019.
The Kenyan international is a huge presence at 6ft 4in, and could be a rough diamond for Rangers to polish up – just as Celtic did with Okumu’s compatriot Victor Wanyama.
Okumu has now told Fotbolltransfers that the two biggest influences on his style of play are Brazilian duo David Luiz and Thiago Silva.
The pair were Brazil’s first-choice centre back pairing before joining forces at Paris Saint-Germain; now they find themselves on opposite sides of London with Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.
“When I grew up, I looked at many different players and took inspiration,” said Okumu. “But above all, I looked at David Luiz and Thiago Silva. They have influenced my style of play,” he added.
Rangers fans may prefer that Okumu is more Silva than the cavalier style of £100,000-a-week Luiz, but if he can even be half as good as either of them, Okumu will prove to be a bargain for the Gers.
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