Rangers Ligue 1 transfer takes fresh twist as Fabrizio Romano moots £21.5m Italian Job
Yesterday at 06:30 AM
Rangers need defensive reinforcements as an injury crisis strikes the heart of the Ibrox defence at the most inopportune of moments.
The Ibrox side are counting the cost of a lack of quality squad depth at centre-back, with John Souttar's latest injury having a direct impact on the club's backline.
With Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Leon Balogun also carrying issues, Rangers are already without team leaders James Tavernier and Jack Butland.
It's led to plenty of speculation surrounding potential defensive reinforcements and now a crucial domino could be about to fall in the reported pursuit of Marseille defender Bamo Meïte.
Rangers linked to Bamo Meïte
Rangers have been linked with a move for Marseille centre-back Bamo Meïte this January and not for the first time.
Rangers were first mentioned as Meïte suitors back in the summer transfer window but a deal never materialised and now Nils Koppen is once again casting glances to France.
According to reports in France, Rangers and Montpellier are both trying to negotiate a loan move for Meïte with Marseille hoping for a more permanent switch.
It comes with the 23-year-old Ivorian defender having only moved to Marseille permanently in the summer following a year-long loan stint from French club Lorient.
While Bamo Meïte made 16 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille last season, the defender has played only three times in the French top flight this campaign and hasn't been seen since September.
Marseille line up £21.5m Italy defender
Now, Bamo Meïte might be set to slip even further down the Marseille pecking order as the Ligue 1 outfit line up a move for Brazilian-born Italian international Luiz Felipe.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old Al-Ittihad centre-back will travel to the south of France today to formalise a move from the Middle East on a contract until 2026.
The transfer comes just 18 months on from Luiz Felipe moving to Saudi Arabia in a reported £21.5m deal from La Liga outfit Real Betis.
Whilst the particulars of any return to Europe are not clear at present, Bamo Meïte faces a seismic task to break into the Marseille team and Rangers will be watching.
With the Gers in desperate need of reinforcements, Rangers fans will hope the transfer of Luiz Felipe is a crucial domino which tips Meïte one step closer to Ibrox.
