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Rangers to return for previous target and Scottish Premiership “Team of the Season” star – opinion

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With no games to plan for, Steven Gerrard, his coaching team and Ross Wilson will be planning ahead for when the transfer window eventually opens and they may be looking at previous targets to strengthen for next season.

Rangers were linked with a move for Vaclav Hladky earlier in the season but the St Mirren stopper claimed that he would prefer a move to England so that one day he could star in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old Czech has five caps at youth level but has yet to make the step up to international football and lacks experience in continental football, however, his performances for the Buddies has attracted attention from the Gers and in November said:

“Rangers are interested in me and some negotiations are under way,” said Hladky, via quotes by the Daily Record. “But playing in England is the big dream. The biggest dream is to play in the Premier League but that is a big jump.

“I know I will need to make another step first on the way. I’m not crazy enough to think I can go from St Mirren directly to the English top division. Going to the Championship would be ideal for me. That is preferable to staying in Scotland.”

As yet, Hladky hasn’t announced his plans for next season and having already started “negotiations” Rangers could yet be his destination.

Allan McGregor may have signed an additional one-year extension to his contract but he has shown signs that his powers are beginning to wain, see the 2-1 defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Cup as the most recent example and Gerrard may feel that Hladky offers immediate competition for the number one jersey until Robby McCrorie is deemed ready to takeover.

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With Alex Rae naming Hladky in his team of the season and 10 clean sheets for a struggling side, there is every reason to suggest that he could offer the quality needed for Rangers to compete for the Scottish Premiership title next year.

At nearly 6ft 4, Hladky has a sizeable presence between the sticks and with his contract set to expire in June, it could be a case of one in and one out –  with Wes Foderingham resigned to leaving Ibrox – if he can be persuaded to postpone his dream move south for now.

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