'Sensational': Rangers can land £4m bargain as Steven Gerrard and Cole Palmer comparison made
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As reports emerge once again linking Scottish Premiership giants Rangers with one of Europe’s more underrated midfield talents, it’s fair to say things are not really black or white.
How serious Rangers’ alleged interest really is, at this stage, remains to be seen.
Rangers News were informed, via Romanian sources back in November, that there had been no significant update regarding a potential move to Ibrox for Darius Olaru.
Yet, with a release clause worth around £4 million in his contract, and as the Romania international now admits he’s ready to leave FCSB in the New Year, the phrase ‘watch this space’ comes to mind. Especially with Rangers seemingly considering the addition of another midfielder, amid interest in NK Osijek ace Marko Soldo.
Rangers could land Croatia Under 21 ace Soldo for a bargain £2.5 million, Rangers News have been told.
Extremely versatile and blessed with ferocious running power, Soldo has blossomed from a deep-lying midfielder into a more attack-minded operator this term. He has a career-best six goals already this term.
But if you think that is impressive number, Olaru’s own tally of 13 goals – plus seven assists – only backs up the argument that man who captained FCSB to their first Romanian league title since 2015 is ready to take the next step.
- READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Rangers could land a Steven Gerrard-type talent in Darius Olaru
Darius Olaru has been likened to Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne in the recent past.
But Ilie Dumitrescu, one of Romania’s favourite footballing sons, feels that the 26-year-old has more in common with two other Premier League icons.
“Now, is the type [of midfielder] we saw in the past with [Steven] Gerrard and [Frank] Lampard,” former West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla defender Dumitrescu tells Digi Sport.
“I mean, [Olaru, Gerrard and Lampard all] ended up playing behind the striker.”
Rangers, of course, handed Steven Gerrard his big break in management. Frank Lampard was considered for a move to Ibrox at one point too, before Philippe Clement got the gig in the aftermath of Mick Beale’s departure.
And while classic ‘number tens’ may be something of a dying breed in an era of all-action number eights and ‘false nines’, Clement’s system does allow for a player to pull the strings and break into the box from in behind the centre-forward.
Tom Lawrence excelled in that role at times. Nedim Bajrami, Danilo and Ianis Hagi have also impressed at times during the Welshman’s latest injury absence. Olaru, or Soldo for that matter, could also fit in nicely should Rangers opt to make a move.
Romania ace Olaru a ‘sensational’ talent who can decide matches
“There are very few teams that play with a number ten. Barcelona plays with Dani Olmo, Chelsea plays with [Cole] Palmer, but there aren’t very many,” Dumitrescu says, albeit while arguing that Olaru needs to improve his defensive output if he is to thrive away from his homeland.
“He has to react defensively as well. Until he understands that he has to react defensively, he won’t make a big step.
“He has a sensational reaction in the offensive phase [though]. When he has the ball at his feet, he decides [matches]. He is decisive and he is the best player in the midfield, but that is not enough.
“Just making a difference in the [Romanian] championship and in a few matches in the European cups is not enough.
“You have to do it for the national team, but also have reactions when the ball is lost. And then, for sure, he will make the step to a good team, because he has a lot of potential in the offensive phase.”
