Rangers Transfer Deemed Essential as Club Urged to Allow Midfielder’s Ibrox Move

Because Marko Soldo’s £2.5 million price tag is deemed too high and Darius Olaru’s £4 million release clause places him beyond Rangers’ budget, the club has reportedly turned its attention to two alternative midfield targets.

Both players are out of contract in the summer, presenting Rangers with opportunities to secure valuable additions without overspending.

One of those players is Dundee’s Lyall Cameron, a rising star in Scottish football.

The 20-year-old has had a standout season under Tony Docherty, contributing eight goals and seven assists.

Rangers are leading the race to sign Cameron, who can be secured on a pre-contract agreement, with any compensation fee to be determined by a tribunal.

This approach mirrors the deal that brought Connor Barron to Glasgow from Aberdeen, with an initial fee of £650,000.

At the opposite end of the age spectrum, Rangers are also exploring the possibility of signing Sasa Zdjelar, a more experienced option.

At 29 years old, Zdjelar is untested in British football and could be considered a higher-risk acquisition with limited resale value.

However, his wealth of experience, including nine caps for Serbia and a key role at Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow, could make him a valuable addition.

Zdjelar has also won silverware in Russia, Greece with Olympiakos, and Serbia with Partizan Belgrade, adding further credibility to his credentials.

The potential move for Zdjelar has sparked mixed reactions in Russia.

Some view a mid-season departure as detrimental to CSKA Moscow’s European ambitions, while others argue that the club should seize the financial opportunity.

Aleksandr Tarkhanov, a former coach, believes CSKA should “probably sell Sasa to Rangers.”

Similarly, Alexandr Grishin, a CSKA icon from the 1990s, agrees that the club must consider the financial aspect, given January is their last opportunity to profit from Zdjelar’s sale.

“Zdjelar is a good player for the Russian Premier League,” Grishin told Championat.

“But if CSKA wants to sell him and Zdjelar plans to leave, this transfer should happen.

Everything must align so the club and player are both comfortable with the situation.”

It is understood that CSKA Moscow is open to selling Zdjelar before the February transfer deadline, but the exact fee remains unclear.

Rangers, facing financial constraints, have so far only secured one deal in the current transfer window — a loan for Rafael Fernandes from LOSC Lille.

Even Soldo’s £2.5 million valuation has been deemed excessive, highlighting the club’s need to pursue affordable options like Zdjelar, whose contract situation makes him a potential bargain.

Dmitry Karsakov, another former CSKA player, believes the Moscow club can cope with Zdjelar’s departure.

“Of course, CSKA needs to sell Zdjelar to Rangers in the winter to generate funds and strengthen their team,” Karsakov said.

“I don’t think he’ll be a significant loss for the club because there are players who can replace him.

“For example, [Matvey] Kislyak has been performing well recently. If CSKA truly needed Zdjelar, they wouldn’t consider letting him go. But in this case, the situation is different.”

Rangers’ pursuit of Zdjelar underscores their current financial challenges, as they explore cost-effective ways to strengthen their squad.

While Cameron offers youthful promise and long-term potential, Zdjelar provides experience and leadership.

Both players could play a pivotal role in shaping Rangers’ midfield as they aim to reinforce their squad without stretching their budget.