Gers linked to 11 players in transfer window including Man United defender and Asian forward
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Rangers have been linked with a number of high-profile transfer moves this January as Philippe Clement looks to strengthen the Ibrox squad.
The Belgian manager is a man under pressure and could certainly use some new recruits to help boost his injury-ravaged defence amid a hectic winter run-in.
The Rangers attack is also feeling the impact of the intense schedule with a feeling that the Ibrox side lack the necessary squad depth to compete on every front.
As a result, there have been no fewer than 11 high profile transfer links into Rangers this January and here's the latest surrounding the Ibrox side's transfer dealings this winter.
Bamo Meïte
Bamo Meïte was first linked to Rangers in the summer as Philippe Clement looked to strengthen the club's centre-back area.
But after the Ibrox side failed to strike a deal, Rangers have now been caught short at the back as injury envelops the club's defence.
Meïte was linked to Rangers and Montpellier again in January but Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has poured cold water on the links by revealing the defender has an injury.
- Current club: Marseille
- Age: 23
- Nationality: Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
- First linked: August, 2024
- Origin of reports: Saber Desfarges (Telefoot, France)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €5m (£4.1m)
Jonny Evans
There's been plenty of Rangers chatter surrounding Northern Ireland and Manchester United legend Jonny Evans but only recently has a solid link emerged.
It's been claimed that Evans was recommended to Clement by a member of the Rangers boardroom only for the Belgian to shut the transfer down.
- Current club: Manchester United
- Age: 37
- Nationality: Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
- First linked: January, 2025
- Origin of reports: Daily Record (Scotland)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €1.5m (£1.2m)
Nikola Katic
Similarly, Nikola Katic has been part of the discussion as Rangers hunt for a new defender in the January window.
Sources close to the ex-Rangers star have since admitted Katic would jump at the chance to return to Ibrox with the situation around the defender more a conversation than any tangible link.
The chatter around Katic appears to stem from comments made by ex-Rangers defender Craig Moore.
- Current club: FC Zurich
- Age: 28
- Nationality: Bosnia/Croatia 🇧🇦/🇭🇷
- First linked: January 2025
- Origin of reports: Craig Moore, speaking on GO Radio (Scotland)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €1.5m (£1.2m)
Ryan Porteous
Another who has been very loosely linked to Rangers, the Ibrox side were said to be tailing Ryan Porteous before he moved to Watford in January 2023.
The former Hibs defender is reportedly unhappy at the English Championship side and as a result, murmurs around Rangers have been picked up in the press.
Again, much of the chatter could stem from Craig Moore referencing Porteous as an option for Rangers on the GO Radio Football Show.
- Current club: Watford
- Age: 25
- Nationality: Scotland 🏴
- First linked: January, 2025
- Origin of reports: Daily Record quoting 'rumours' (Scotland)
- Transfermarkt valuation €3m (£2.5m)
Marko Soldo
Rangers News exclusively revealed that Rangers were tailing Osijek midfielder Marko Soldo heading into the January transfer window.
But any threat of a January move for Soldo was shut down in Croatia with the midfielder reportedly now attracting interest in Spain.
Real Betis have been linked to Soldo who could be available for around £2.5m.
- Current club: NK Osijek
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Croatia 🇭🇷
- First linked: December, 2024
- Origin of reports: Rangers News (Scotland)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €1.5m (£1.2m)
Leon Belcar
Leon Belcar is another young Croatia midfielder being linked to Rangers, with interest in the FK Varazdin star also being held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Belcar has recently reiterated his commitment to Varazdin but the Croatian youth international is one to watch heading into the summer months.
- Current club: NK Varazdin
- Age: 23
- Nationality: Croatia 🇭🇷
- First linked: January, 2025
- Origin of reports: 24 Sata (Croatia)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €800k (£665k)
Isaac Price
Rangers have been linked with a move for Standard Liege's Northern Ireland midfielder Isaac Price by reports in Belgium.
Rangers were said to have been building a dossier on Price heading into the January window, after the Ibrox side had reportedly missed out on the player in 2023.
However almost as quickly as Rangers links to the ex-Everton midfielder appeared were sources close to Rangers rubbishing the reports around Price.
- Current club: Standard Liege
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
- First linked: April, 2023
- Origin of reports: Walfoot (Belgium)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €3m (£2.5m)
Darius Olaru
Romanian playmaker Darius Olaru is another player who has been routinely linked to Rangers over the last few seasons but nothing has quite materialised.
Heading into January, the sounds around Olaru and Rangers were perhaps at their loudest yet with the FCSB star at odds with the Romanian club's management.
With Olaru and FCSB at a contract standstill, there were plenty of suggestions Rangers might activate the playmaker's £4m release clause but so far there has been nothing to report.
- Current club: FCSB
- Age: 26
- Nationality: Romania 🇷🇴
- First linked: July, 2022
- Origin of reports: Pete O'Rourke speaking on Inside Track Podcast (UK)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €7.5m (£6.2m)
Arif Aiman Hanapi
Rangers have been casting their net far and wide in the search of new talent and links to Malaysian winger Arif Aiman Hanapi are amongst the most far-flung of the lot this January.
Reports in Malaysia suggested Rangers were considering the free-scoring winger, who has 15 goals for Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim this season.
The latest surrounding Hanapi suggests Rangers could face competition from Iranian club FC Persepolis should they hope to make a move for the winger.
- Current club: Johor Darul Ta’zim
- Age: 22
- Nationality: Malaysia 🇲🇾
- First linked: November, 2024
- Origin of reports: New Strait Times (Malaysia)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €600k (£500k)
Iqraam Rayners
Amongst the most exciting January transfer links to Rangers involves South African hitman Iqraam Rayners.
The former Stellenbosch striker is on red hot form with Mamelodi Sundowns and Rangers have reportedly made contact over Rayners, who is reportedly available for around £2.4m.
Perhaps any Rangers move for the striker depends on the future of St Etienne-linked frontman Cyriel Dessers.
- Current club: Mamelodi Sundowns
- Age: 29
- Nationality: South Africa 🇿🇦
- First linked: December, 2024
- Origin of reports: Soccer Laduma (South Africa)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €1.8m (£1.5m)
Joe Gelhardt
Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt has been amongst the prominent Rangers links this January, with the striker available on loan this winter.
Rangers are one of a number of clubs linked to Gelhardt who is reportedly set to leave Elland Road on a short term deal for the rest of the season.
- Current club: Leeds United
- Age: 22
- Nationality: England 🏴
- First linked: November, 2024
- Origin of reports: Yorkshire Evening Post (England)
- Transfermarkt valuation: €3.5m (£2.9m)
