Rangers have already made a productive start to their summer transfer window, with Ianis Hagi, Calvin Bassey and Jon McLaughlin all snapped up.
The Gers need to be active in the market if they’re to chase down Celtic. Preventing them from winning a tenth league title in a row will be the focus for Steven Gerrard and co.
They continue to be linked with new signings, and a new rumour emerged over the weekend. The Daily Mail claim that Rangers have discussed a deal for Rapid Vienna’s Dejan Ljubicic.
The Austrian side allegedly want £2million for Ljubicic, but Rangers will have to beat Celtic, Brentford and Southampton to his signature.
Ljubicic, 22, is primarily a defensive midfielder, but can also play at centre back. He is big and strong, protecting the back four with his ability to break up the game whilst also having ability on the ball.
If Rangers do sign Ljubicic, then they would be replicating the 2018 move they made to sign Borna Barisic from Osijek.
Rangers landed the left back after he impressed against them in the Europa League, and the move has certainly paid dividends; the Croatian is now one of the first names on Gerrard’s team sheet.
The Gers faced Ljubicic in the Europa League too. He was part of the Rapid side that lost 3-1 at Ibrox in October 2018, playing the full 90 minutes as an anchor man in midfield.
Ljubicic’s performance in that game may have put him on the Rangers radar. They’ve had more than 18 months to track his development since then, and he has been a key player for Rapid in that time.
In January, Rangers were linked with another player who played against them in Europe, with Voetbal International claiming interest in Feyenoord midfielder Renato Tapia.
It seems that Rangers have used their Europa League exploits to look at potential signings, and Ljubicic could well be another Barisic in that regard.
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