NafisaRangers have wasted little time responding to Celtic’s latest statement of intent in the transfer market.
The Glasgow rivals have already produced plenty of drama on the pitch this season, but the battle between the two clubs is now spilling into the transfer market as the summer window enters its final days.
Celtic recently smashed their transfer record to bring Kasper Høgh to Parkhead, sending a clear message about their ambitions under Martin O’Neill. The striker’s arrival represented a major financial commitment from the Hoops and immediately raised expectations among the Celtic support.
For Rangers, however, there was little time to dwell on it.
Derek McInnes has been desperate to strengthen his attacking options, particularly after Youssef Chermiti suffered an injury that left the Rangers boss short of options up front.
The need for another striker became even more obvious after Rangers’ disastrous European exit at the hands of Jablonec.
The Ibrox side failed to score across 120 minutes in Czechia before eventually crashing out on penalties, ending their hopes of European football for the season.
McInnes admitted after Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Aberdeen that Rangers had already identified the striker they wanted, but insisted the delay in completing the deal had not been caused by the club.
“In terms of ones in, it’s been a while now since Youssef went down against Hibs, so we’re really keen and eager to get the striker in that we want.
“Again, it’s taken a bit longer, but it’s not reasons the club are guilty for. We all know the importance of bringing in that quality at the top end of the pitch.”
And Rangers have now moved decisively.
The club have agreed an outline deal with Portland Timbers for Kevin Kelsy, with the overall package understood to be worth around £9 million when potential add-ons are included.
The Venezuelan international has already travelled to Europe to complete the next stage of the transfer, with a medical scheduled before the deal can be formally completed.
If everything goes smoothly, Kelsy is expected to become a Rangers player before the Scottish transfer deadline on Thursday at 5pm.
The move could therefore prove to be something of a statement response from Rangers after Celtic’s decision to break their own transfer record for Høgh.
While the two deals are not directly connected, the timing will certainly add another layer to the Old Firm rivalry.
Celtic have shown they are prepared to spend heavily to improve O’Neill’s squad, and Rangers are now preparing to put a significant sum into their own attack.
Kelsy’s arrival would also give McInnes a different option at the top end of the pitch and potentially allow the manager to reshape his forward line after a difficult opening period.
The striker was reportedly identified as Rangers’ preferred target following Chermiti’s injury, with the club working behind the scenes to get the agreement over the line.
But Kelsy is not the only major issue McInnes has to deal with before the deadline.
Nico Raskin’s future remains unresolved, despite the Belgian midfielder being left out of Rangers’ last three matches amid continued speculation over his future.
McInnes confirmed there has been no formal offer for the midfielder so far, although he expects the situation could change rapidly before the window closes.
“In terms of outs, I don’t think there’s anything imminent on that. There’s certainly not been any offers for Nico, if that’s the next question.
“Obviously, it’s normally the last couple of days of the window when things really crank up, so we need to be primed for that.”
Raskin has attracted interest from clubs including Real Betis and Villarreal, while former Rangers boss Danny Rohl has been linked with a move for Djeidi Gassama after taking charge of Red Bull Salzburg.
However, Rangers are understood to have no intention of simply allowing Gassama to leave without the right offer.
There are also several other players who could depart Ibrox before the deadline, with Lyall Cameron, Ross McCausland and Connor Barron among those potentially available for the right price.
Bojan Miovski’s situation could also change dramatically if Kelsy’s move is completed, with the Macedonian striker potentially heading out on loan.
For now, though, the biggest focus is on the man travelling across Europe to complete his move.
Rangers desperately needed another attacking option.
Celtic’s record-breaking move for Høgh has raised the stakes even further.
And with Kevin Kelsy now closing in on Ibrox, McInnes appears ready to make his own statement.
Nafisa
