Rangers now face La Liga battle for 'extremely powerful' player as Clement eyes £2.5m bargain

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Considering how far he has come in such a short space of time, Rangers were always likely to face a battle to secure the services of one of Europe’s most improving young talents.

A battle that could see Philippe Clement’s side go sword-to-sword, shield-to-shield with La Liga powerhouses Real Betis before the month is out.

The prize for the winner, meanwhile, could be a player who puts the ‘complete’ in the ‘complete midfielder’.

Marko Soldo was a defensive-minded operator until very recently. A player who’s job was largely to stop goals rather than score them at the other end. Since swapping Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb for NK Osijek, however, his role has flipped on it’s head.

A change in position has revolutionised many a career over the years. See, for instance, Gareth Bale’s emergence from a left-back to a rampaging left-winger. Not so long ago, Declan Rice was playing at centre-half while Vincent Kompany was patrolling the midfield.

Osijek coach Federico Coppitelli, to his eternal credit, felt that Soldo’s talents were being wasted in the number six role. And, after pushing him forward into a number eight or a number ten position, Coppitelli has been rewarded by six goals and four assists from a man producing career-best numbers these days in a previously unfamiliar area of the pitch.

RangersNews were exclusively informed, back in December, that Rangers are keen to bring Marko Soldo to Glasgow. And while former Dinamo president Zdravko Mamic feels that the Croatia Under-21 international should be worth at least £12 million – in line with the sort of sums Luka Modric and co left their homeland for – it is understood that Osijek may be willing to accept a bargain £2.5 million.

Though what Real Betis’ interest means for that transfer fee, per 24Sata, only time will tell.

• READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present

Rangers face Real Betis battle for Osijek star Marko Soldo

The prospect of a bidding war can only raise Soldo’s value, though Betis’ financial issues mean Rangers should not automatically be considered as outsiders just because Scottish football lacks the glamour of La Liga.

Real Betis, back in September, took out a 125 million euro loan from Goldman Sachs in order to ease their debts. Los Verdiblancos were also forced to sell a host of star players last summer, including Nabil Fekir, German Pezzella, Ayoze Perez, Chadi Riad and former Spain Under-21 starlet Rodri.

At Ibrox, the size of Rangers’ transfer kitty is yet to be made public. Soldo is unlikely to require a bank-breaking fee, however, even if Betis throw their spanner into the proverbial works.

The 21-year-old’s flexibility is likely to appeal to Clement – a manager who tends to prioritise adaptable, versatile operators – with Soldo capable of providing competition not only for Mo Diomande and Nico Raskin but also Nedim Bajrami and Ianis Hagi further forward.

Marko Soldo is ‘extremely powerful’ and scores goals from midfield

"The number six has been my primary position since I was younger," Soldo explained recently. "But I used to play as an attacking midfielder even then, so that role was not foreign to me. In Osijek, I often play as a number eight. Sometimes, I go to the number ten position.

"I have no problem adapting to the coach's demands, all for the sake of a good result. And [being in close] proximity to the opponent's goal suits me. I get more chances to assist and score."

"He can be in charge of defensive stability, for creation, or to have the role of a box-to-box midfielder, who is powerful in running, attacks the space in the attacking phase," writes Croatian publication Germanijak.

"Soldo is a modern midfielder who can be found all over the field and who is clearly good at positions that are not his natural. And that says enough about the character trait he carries within himself and his ability to adapt.

"He is also extremely powerful and versatile physically."