Rangers best-placed to sign 'phenomenal' Vaclav Cerny replacement amid Iran links to 15-goal star
01/07/2025 06:00 AM
Rangers are finally reaping the rewards for a transfer strategy summed up pretty neatly by the Scottish Premiership giants’ now-technical director Nils Koppen a few months ago.
Koppen explained that, with players based in England and Europe’s major leagues now more expensive than ever, Rangers would have to look further afield for value-for-money additions.
Take Hamza Igamane, for instance. A little-known, fresh-faced centre-forward who arrived at Ibrox from Moroccan outfit RAF Rabat to the tune of £1.7 million. Taking his tally to seven goals in nine Premiership matches – Igamene thundered a maiden Rangers hat-trick past Hibernian in Sunday’s 3-3 draw – the youngster is performing less like a £1.7 million striker these days and a player worthy of the deletion of that decimal point.
But, after bringing in a number nine from Morocco, a left-back from Brazil and an Ivorian midfielder from Denmark, could Rangers’ pursuit of a new wideman lead them to Malaysia?
- READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Rangers linked Arif Aiman Hanapi also wanted in Iran
According to reports all the way over in Asia, Rangers are watching Arif Aiman Hanapi of Johor Darul Ta’zim. An explosive right-wided attacker, Hanapi has 15 goals and eight assists this season from just 23 matches, the highlight of his campaign a thrilling hat-trick against Kuala Lumpur FC on the other side of Christmas.
"Phenomenal, for his overall contribution both in attack and in defence," Johor Darul Ta'zum head coach, and former Venezuela international, Hector Bidoglio said of Hanapi recently.
"It's excellent to witness him in such fine form. I know the effort he puts in day in and day out to improve his game. Clearly, he's our standout player."
With Vaclav Cerny’s future at Ibrox uncertain – Philippe Clement admitted that Rangers may struggle to finance a permanent deal for the VFL Wolfsburg loanee – 22-year-old Hanapi may have been identified as an affordable, if left-field, replacement.
Rangers will face competition, however. Notably, from Iran.
Persepolis FC, the reigning champions of the Persian Gulf Pro League, are also interested, according to local publication Bartarinha. Rangers should have a clear advantage, however, and not just because they can point to far deeper pockets than a Persepolis side who have only parted with a seven-figure transfer fee once in their history.
Bartarinha report that Persepolis’ ‘foreign player quota’ is currently full. As such, they would have to get rid of one of their non-Iranian talents before bringing Hanapi to the Azadi Stadium.
- READ MORE:Rangers Players Loaned Out 2024/25
Philippe Clement feels Rangers need more depth to challenge Celtic
Philippe Clement has made no secret of his desire for Rangers to make full use of the transfer market, meanwhile. With a recent injury crisis has allowed a number of players the chance to step up and prove their worth, Clement still feels that the Gers squad is lacking depth in comparison to runaway Premiership leaders Celtic.
"They spent £30 million [last summer] to make the depth in the squad bigger and to have more possibilities to make rotation," Clement said before that trip to Easter Road.
"Last season, in December, when they had to replace a few players – with [Cameron] Carter-Vickers out, with [Reo] Hatate out – they also lost points along the way.
"They have been building in a longer term in that way. It's now about us, if its possible to make this gap in the league smaller."
