Report: Lassana Coulibaly opted for Rangers move amid Metz interest

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Glasgow Rangers are reportedly on the verge of bringing Lassana Coulibaly to Ibrox on a season-long loan.

According to a report from the Daily Record, Rangers target Lassana Coulibaly has also been attracting attention from Metz, but remains on course to move to Ibrox on a season-long loan deal.

The Record reports that the 22-year-old is one of Steven Gerrard’s top targets this summer as he gears up for his first season with the Scottish Premiership side and the Gers boss hoped to have the midfielder in his ranks for their Europa League bow with Shkupi this week.

And the Record suggests that the Mali international is set to be available for Thursday’s game at Ibrox with his season-long loan from Angers set to be completed imminently. But it appears that another side were interested in throwing a spanner into the works.

The Record adds that Metz were also keen on signing Coulibaly, but he has opted to make the move to Scotland.

Another statement from Gerrard?

On paper, Rangers fans would have probably felt that there was always little to worry about regarding a potential pursuit from Metz, but perhaps it is still a statement made by Gerrard to get Coulibaly through the door.

Metz were relegated from Ligue 1 last term, but if Coulibaly’s ultimate goal is to make the grade with his parent club, snubbing Rangers and joining Metz may have been the safer option given that he would have been perfecting his game in the French leagues. Joining Les Grenats would have also probably provided Coulibaly with a much clearer path to a regular spot in the first-team.

However, Coulibaly deserves credit for rolling the dice and deciding to try and make the grade with Rangers. And Gerrard, once again, seems to deserve praise for not shying away from making a large number of changes ahead of his first season at the helm.