Rangers and Celtic have reportedly reached out the agency representing Koln midfielder Denis Huseinbasic as the Glasgow giants weigh up a summer move.
The 21-year-old is in the midst of his breakthrough campaign in the. Bundesliga, making 23 appearances across the German top flight and Europa Conference League this term - leading to interest ramping up in the rising German U21 international. Sport Bild report that Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers and Celtic are among the clubs who have reached out to Huseinbasic's representatives at the Profi Sports Prskalo agency, with interest also expected to emerge from England and France.
Ibrox boss Michael Beale faces a major overhaul of the first-team with a host of key player likely to leave Rangers at the end of their current deals, including Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent. Across the city, Ange Postecoglou has typically got most of his transfer business done early in the window and quick-fire move for Huseinbasic would fit the model.
Despite not handing Huseinbasic a regular start, Steffen Baumgart insists that the player would be better sticking with the German outfit. He said: "Denis will continue the development he is doing.
"The boy comes from the regional league. And it would be nice if we didn't just have a shooting star, but if it took a little longer and we continuously built him up so that he was a permanent member of the starting eleven
"I think this shooting up and then being a star is not for Denis. He's accepting the situation very well and is very ambitious. He doesn't always agree with my decisions - but you never see that in him."
The prospect only joined Koln in the summer of 2022 from German regional league side Kickers Offenbach for a paltry €50,000, and it is claimed the German side could now demand a €5million fee to let the player leave. Huseinbasic took the step down to the fourth tier after being released from Eintracht Frankfurt's academy.
At the time Koln managing director Christian Keller admitted it would be a "massive leap" for the the player after landing the "sought-after young player." However, he has gone on to prove any doubters wrong.
Germany under-21 boss Antonio Di Salvo has heaped praise on the rapid rise of the midfielder - leading to his first cap in November 2022. He said: "The development is great. It's going up quickly and steeply.
"We brought him into the coaching room on the first day so that we could get to know him a little better, He is a very confident young man who knows exactly what he's capable of."
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