Rangers-Linked Defender Poised for £6M Deadline Day Transfer Following Gattuso Praise

Rafael Fernandes, the former Portugal Under-21 international, made his debut for Rangers under Philippe Clement, coming off the bench during their dominant 4-0 victory over Ross County.

Insiders at the club believe they have secured an exceptional talent, and Fernandes could follow in the footsteps of successful loanees like Vaclav Cerny and Abdallah Sima by becoming a fan favorite.

Fortunately for Rangers, they included an option-to-buy clause in Fernandes’ contract, a move that could prove crucial.

The Glasgow club previously missed out on a permanent deal for Sima and may struggle to afford Wolfsburg’s asking price for Cerny.

However, Fernandes, who has yet to play for Lille since his £2.5 million transfer from Arouca, is expected to cost significantly less than Sima or Cerny.

With Fernandes now part of the squad, Rangers quickly ended their pursuit of Burnley’s Hjalmar Ekdal.

The Swedish defender had been linked with a move to Ibrox but instead joined Dutch side Groningen.

A similar situation appears to be unfolding with Bamo Meite, another center-back reportedly on Rangers’ radar.

Bamo Meite Set for Montpellier Move

Marseille’s Bamo Meite was rumored to be a target for Rangers, but those links faded once the club secured Fernandes.

Meite is now on the verge of finalizing a move to Montpellier.

According to L’Equipe, the Ligue 1 side is signing the 23-year-old Ivorian on loan, with a substantial £6.5 million fee attached.

This means Montpellier are paying more for a short-term deal for Meite than Rangers are likely to spend on Fernandes if they make his move permanent.

Ouest France further reports that Montpellier will have the option to sign Meite permanently if they avoid relegation from Ligue 1.

The defender, who was handed his Marseille debut by former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, is expected to play a key role in their survival battle.

Rangers’ Defensive Situation and Derek Ferguson’s Concerns

The addition of Fernandes, along with the emergence of young defender Clinton Nsiala, has provided much-needed relief for Rangers amid their defensive injury crisis.

While John Souttar has returned to action, Rangers were still without Leon Balogun, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and Dujon Sterling for their Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise.

Despite the reinforcements, former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson believes the club still needs another center-back.

Ferguson, a two-time Scottish Premiership champion in the 1980s, expressed his concerns about Rangers’ defensive depth.

“Rangers need a defender, a centre-back,” Ferguson stated.

“They’re going to assess Fernandes over six months, but I still feel we are short at the back.”

He also shared his doubts about Robin Propper, saying: “There’s talk about Jefte going to Chelsea in the summer.

Propper, for me, doesn’t enjoy the physical side of the game. He’s a good footballer if you play a certain style, but you need physicality.”

Ferguson, however, had high praise for Nsiala, calling him a “breath of fresh air.”

Nevertheless, he urged Rangers to address their defensive issues to strengthen their squad for the challenges ahead.