Rangers may face a sizeable hurdle if they are to follow up their interest in Preston North End’s Daniel Johnson, with Football Insider reporting that he is set to be offered a new deal by his club.
The 28-year old attacking midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Ibrox only for a £2million offer to be deemed not enough for a player in the last year of his contract with the Lilywhites looking for closer to £4m.
Ross Wilson will feel that he still holds all the aces though given the Light Blues current status as title favourites and in a Europa League group that could see knockout football return for another season after Christmas.
Not many would choose between signing a new contract to see out your peak years in the English Championship when there is the prospect of playing continental football and winning silverware also on the table, given his contract status, there is every chance that Rangers would also be able to offer a bigger salary – a rarity in the modern game even when competing with small sized second-tier sides from down south.
Should Rangers offer Johnson a contract in January?
Yes
No
Bongani Zungu was signed on deadline day but the South African international is more similar to Steven Davis in terms of style of play in that he is a deeper lying play maker who likes to spray passes around, whereas Johnson would be more likely to occupy one of the roles in support of a central striker.
The summer transfer window was a long one this season which makes the gap until the winter one even shorter, Preston have just a few months to persuade Johnson – who was keen on a move to Ibrox – that his career would be better served spending wet Tuesday nights in Stoke rather than Thursday nights playing against the likes of Benfica.