Not content with breaking Glaswegian hearts during last year’s Europa League final in Seville, Eintracht Frankfurt are now aiming to scupper Rangers’ hopes of bringing one of Europe’s up-and-coming central defenders to Ibrox.
Despite the burgeoning Connor Goldson-Ben Davies partnership, defensive additions are still a must as far as Rangers are concerned. Filip Helander’s contract is expiring, James Sands’ future remains uncertain while injury-hit John Souttar has played just 67 minutes of football since moving from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
Hence the interest in 21-year-old William Pacho.
Rangers battling Monaco and Eintracht Frankfurt for William Pacho
According to Het Nieuwsblad, the Ecuadorian colossus has already caught the eye of clubs from all corners of the continent despite only arriving at Royal Antwerp 12 months ago. Rangers, the report says, have scouted Pacho ‘several times’. As have a Monaco side who taught Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and Kylian Mbappe the ropes.
In fact, if you were to ask 100 football supporters to name the first club that came to mind when discussing sides famed for signing talented youngsters and selling them on for a major profit, one suspects Monaco would be a rather frequent answer.
But credit where it’s due; Sebastian Haller, Luka Jovic, Jesper Lindstrom, Djibril Sow and Randal Kolo Muani all made their name at the Commerzbank Arena, and Pacho would most certainly be in very good company at Bundesliga high-flyers Eintracht Frankfurt.
German publication Sport1 say that Pacho has expressed an interest in joining Frankfurt; a potential replacement for the out-of-contract Evan Ndicka. Not that sporting director Markus Krosche has any plans to meet Antwerp’s prohibitive £13 million asking price as things stand, however. A fee that could scupper Pacho’s hopes of climbing one more rung up the footballing ladder.
£13 million required
Rangers are not so much ‘unwilling’ as ‘incapable’. The Gers have not splashed out over £10 million since Tore Andre Flo arrived from Chelsea nearly a quarter-of-a-century ago. Pacho, at £13 million, would require a record-breaking sum. The sort of bid which may have been possible two decades ago, but no longer.
“We don’t spend the most money in this country,” Rangers coach Mick Beale sighed earlier this month; his cheeks a shade of dark green as he enviously bemoaned the spending power on offer at Old Firm rivals Celtic (Daily Record).
“Celtic have made three signings (in January) and people are asking; ‘Are you going to (sign) three’? No, we will do what we think (is best). But also, they spend a lot more money than us.
“Ange (Postecoglou) is a lucky man because he’s spent a lot of money.”
Not even reigning champions Celtic could afford the £13 million Royal Antwerp want for Pacho, however. With Frankfurt potentially turning their backs on a deal too, it seems that few can.
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