Rangers-linked Uruguay talent subject to 'three transfer offers' and eight-figure valuation
12/09/2024 08:30 AM
Rangers' summer transfer window was dominated by transfer links to players all over the world as the club explored emerging markets.
Whether it was bringing Hamza Igamane from Moroccan side FAR Rabat, or Brazilian left-back Jefte from Rio de Janeiro outfit Fluminense, it's a strategy which transferred into success. No pun intended.
But for every transfer Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement managed to secure, Rangers were also linked to a high profile swoop which never quite came off.
One such name is Uruguayan midfielder Damian Garcia, the Peñarol talent and U20 World Cup winner considered a high potential option coming out of South America.
Now, after Peñarol lifted the Uruguayan domestic championship, there's chatter aplenty about the 21-year-old's future with Rangers a couple of weeks out from the January window.
Rangers-linked Damian Garcia on the move?
It's unclear just how close Rangers were to signing Damian Garcia in the summer, or if the Ibrox side were ever in proper negotiations at all.
Garcia was heavily linked to Rangers with the player's contract situation up in the air and Peñarol hoping to maximise their return on the Uruguayan talent.
The links then intensified when Rangers director Nils Koppen attended a TransferRoom summit alongside Peñarol president Nacho Ruglio.
Now, Damian Garcia's outspoken agent Edgardo Lasalvia has once again been discussing his client's personal transfer situation.
And the South American confirmed that there is already interest in Damian Garcia around the globe, with Brazil now looking like an increasingly likely destination.
With no mention of Rangers, the Ibrox club could be priced out of proceedings anyway, with Peñarol hoping to bank around $15m (£11.75m) from the player.
This is between transfer fees, sell-ons and player rights, which are valued much higher in Brazil than they are in Uruguay.
Lasalvia also confirmed that alongside a concrete 'possibility' in Brazil, Damian Garcia has offers in Mexico and the Middle East.
Damian Garcia's agent on transfer
“I have a possibility for Damian from the Brazilian league," Lasalvia told Uruguayan radio station Sport890, as quoted by Foot Boom.
"And I see Peñarol inclined to sell a percentage of his rights because they can be valued higher there and, in the future, it could reach a sale of $15m (£11.75m).
“Brazil is a better league than Mexico for boosting Damian’s career, even though Mexico pays more. But we’re not looking at the salary; we’re considering Damian’s potential growth.
"There's also interest from the Middle East, although the economic difference in salary isn’t as significant as that with Brazil."
