NafisaRangers look set to make another significant addition to their squad after Aston Villa gave the green light for one of their young defenders to complete a move to Ibrox.
The transfer has been developing quickly, with the player’s future becoming increasingly uncertain despite being given a prominent role during Villa’s pre-season preparations.
For a while, there was genuine hope that he could force his way into Unai Emery’s plans.
The 20-year-old returned to Villa this summer following a loan spell with RB Leipzig and was handed opportunities to impress during the club’s preparations for the new campaign.
Those appearances appeared to put him in contention for a bigger role.
But football can change very quickly.
Villa have continued searching for additional competition at right-back, and that has now opened the door for the Serbian defender to pursue a fresh challenge elsewhere.
And Rangers have moved quickly.
Rangers close in on Aston Villa defender
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Aston Villa have now given Kosta Nedeljkovic permission to complete a move to Rangers.
The right-back is expected to join the Ibrox club on an initial season-long loan.
But this isn’t simply a temporary arrangement.
The proposed agreement contains a £4 million obligation to buy, meaning Rangers could be required to make the move permanent if the relevant conditions are met.
Reports in Scotland indicate that the obligation is linked to Nedeljkovic making a specified number of appearances for Rangers.
That detail makes the deal particularly interesting because it means the youngster could potentially become a permanent Rangers player after just one season in Glasgow.
Why did Villa allow him to leave?
The decision may appear surprising considering how heavily Nedeljkovic featured during Villa’s pre-season.
Only recently, there had been suggestions that the youngster had a genuine opportunity to convince Emery that he deserved to remain with the first-team squad.
But Villa’s activity in the transfer market has changed the picture.
The Premier League club have been looking for another senior option at right-back, with their pursuit of West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka providing a major clue about their thinking.
Villa reportedly made a loan proposal for Wan-Bissaka, although that approach was rejected by West Ham.
However, talkSPORT reports that Villa’s pursuit has since progressed significantly.
If they succeed in bringing another experienced right-back through the door, Nedeljkovic’s route into Emery’s team would become even more difficult.
His impending Rangers move would therefore free up space in Villa’s squad while allowing the club to continue reshaping the position.
Nedeljkovic has already had an unusual Villa journey
The Serbian arrived at Villa from Red Star Belgrade in 2024 with plenty of potential, but regular first-team football has been difficult to come by.
He has made only 10 competitive appearances for Aston Villa since completing the move.
Much of his development has instead taken place away from Villa Park.
His latest loan spell at RB Leipzig gave him another opportunity to experience football at a high level before returning to England this summer.
Now, rather than fighting for his place in Emery’s squad, he appears ready to take on a completely different challenge.
And Rangers could provide exactly the environment he needs.
Rangers see another opportunity
For Rangers, the deal represents an intriguing piece of business.
Nedeljkovic is still only 20 and already has experience of playing at senior level in both England and Germany.
The fact that Rangers could potentially secure him permanently for around £4m also gives the transfer an added dimension.
Much could depend on how quickly he settles into life at Ibrox.
If he becomes a regular and reaches the appearance threshold attached to the agreement, Rangers could find themselves committed to a permanent transfer.
That would give the club a young right-back who could potentially become an important part of the team for years to come.
For Villa, meanwhile, the move allows them to continue restructuring their right-back options while giving Nedeljkovic the regular football he needs.
And with Emery’s side seemingly moving closer to another signing in the position, the youngster’s departure could soon become the final piece of a much bigger reshuffle.
The move is now expected to progress, with Nedeljkovic having been given permission to formalise his switch to Rangers.
If everything goes according to plan, the Serbian could soon be heading through the doors at Ibrox — with a £4m permanent move potentially waiting for him at the end of the road.
Nafisa
