Rangers 'enquire' about 'clever' South Africa striker amid Cyriel Dessers exit reports
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Rangers are gearing up for the January transfer window with much debate surrounding the striker berth at Ibrox.
Nigerian hitman Cyriel Dessers remains the subject of intense criticism after a host of spurned opportunities in big matches, with Danilo only just returning from injury and Hamza Igamane already attracting interest in the Premier League.
With Cyriel Dessers also being linked to Saint Etienne in Ligue 1, there could be some movement in the position in January and now Rangers are being linked to one of South African football's top strikers.
Rangers 'enquire' about Iqraam Rayners
Rangers are being linked with a move for Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners, who has been making a big impression in the South African Premiership.
Iqraam Rayners, 29, is widely considered amongst the division's most potent striker options and only just moved to Sundowns from Stellenbosch in the summer.
According to Soccer Laduma, Rangers have made enquiries about Rayners ahead of the January transfer window with the striker netting 12 goals in 16 games for Mamelodi Sundowns this season.
It comes after the South African international striker – who has four goals in ten appearances for the Bafana Bafana – netted 17 times for Stellenbosch in the last campaign.
A source has told Soccer Laduma that Rangers have been tailing Rayners since last year with the Gers holding a genuine interest ahead of the January transfer window.
"There has been an enquiry about (Iqraam) Rayners from Rangers of Scotland," said the source.
"I don't think there has been an offer from them at this stage. What I know is they have shown interest and they continue monitoring him.
"It's not for the first time. I know there was in interest in him from the same club before he joined Sundowns but I believe they were a bit slow and that's why he ended up signings for Sundowns.
"But now they are back on for his services. They are monitoring him again."
'Clever' South Africa striker leaves 'bitter taste'
The Ibrox links to Iqraam Rayners come just as the South African striker scores on his return to old club Stellenbosch.
Rayners would score the eventual winner in a 1-0 victory for Mamelodi Sundowns on their visit to Stellenbosch to show everyone his striking prowess.
The goal means the striker has broken his own record by scoring in six consecutive games for Mamelodi Sundowns, having scored in five consecutive matches for Stellenbosch last season.
Speaking after the match, Stellenbosch manager Steve Barker lamented the return of his former striker and claims the goal 'leaves a bitter taste'.
It comes with Stellenbosch forced to move stadium due to issues with the quality of the club's pitch.
"It was a game of two halves, we didn't play as we should in the first half, just one or two execution issues, a bit of decision-making, and a couple of errors," Barker told the Idiski Times.
"We knew a player like Iqi is clever with his movement behind. Obviously, we conceded, arguably they could've had a second before half-time with a couple of chances that Ribeiro had.
"Obviously it's not easy, it's our first campaign at CAF, we only arrived on Monday, we not playing at our Stadium Danie Craven, where we would've wanted to play this game but unfortunately the league said the pitch is not in the state it would be.
"So it becomes very frustrating to play these amount of games, people will say it is in Cape Town but we have to get to our SAS home base, travel two, three hours again that is taken out of the game.
"One of your players you had and reignited his career to get into Bafana Bafana squad, to get into his move that he sort of desired to be at the club like Sundowns scores a quality goal as he does leaves a bit of a bitter taste."
It's not the first time Rangers have been linked to a player from South Africa either, with Relebohile Mofokeng now attracting the likes of Barcelona.
