Giovanni van Bronckhorst has already stated that “crazy” things can happen in the final days of the transfer window. And the last one taught Rangers fans that as Aaron Ramsey was signed in a shock deadline-day loan move from Juventus.
The much-hyped move didn’t work out as the Ibrox side had hoped with the Welshman often on the treatment table and missing the penalty kick in the Europa League final which cost Rangers the chance of making history against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville. But, at the time, there wouldn’t have been too many Rangers fans against taking a chance on Ramsey, even with his poor injury record. Now there’s another big name swirling around after journalist Alan Nixon said Rangers are “looking into” a deal for Ross Barkley.
The 28-year-old’s Chelsea contract has been terminated after four years at Stamford Bridge, where he moved for £15 million from Everton. Barkley would have to take a huge drop in his £200,000-a-week wages he picked up at the west London club but that is likely to be the case wherever he goes after failing to recapture his stunning Toffees form that catapulted him into the England squad.
Van Bronckhorst has earned Rangers Champions League cash and might be looking to pull off a big signing before the window closes. Ramsey sat in the stand and watched Rangers drubbed by Celtic, previously linked with Barkley, at Parkhead after his move and with a trip to the east end of Glasgow on Saturday, the light blue legions will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself if a similarly big name in Barkley does join.
While incomings are what the fans really want to know about, one player has gone out of the Ibrox exit door. Right back Mateusz Zukowski, just six months after arriving, has returned to Poland to join Lech Poznan pending a medical with Adam Devine being handed a new deal as James Tavernier’s main challenger now.
That could see Van Bronckhorst move for a replacement while Stephen Kelly could still move on after being told he is free to leave with a year left on his deal and Niko Katic only has a few days left if his future lies elsewhere.
And as the clock ticks down, what will happen with Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos? The duo have a year left on their deals and would be available to sign Bosman deals in January if they don’t agree extensions.
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