Finding a suitable player to replace Allan McGregor as Rangers long-term number one is going to be one of Ross Wilson’s most important jobs over the next two transfer windows. Jon McLaughlin was given his chance, however, one bad game at Parkhead, where he didn’t get much help off his defence, has seen him already judged as not good enough to takeover.
Scouring the pre-contract market hasn’t thrown up many names other than Jack Butland but one has emerged this week who even a Celtic supporting analyst has described as a “slam dunk” when eyeing potential Joe Hart successors.
Nikita Haikin has been Bodo/Glimt’s number one since 2019 and is a relatively late bloomer in terms of being a regular starter, he has though, been a key player in the Norwegian side’s recent success but is now at a crossroads in his career.
Like fellow Bodo/Glimt teammate Ola Solbakken, Haikin’s contract expires in December which means that, if Rangers move for him, he would be eligible to sign immediately and without a transfer fee.
(3/5)
On the ball Hart is fairly safe focusing on short safe passing, with very little long range success against the sample group.Haiken goes long more often with much more success as he is more capble of breaking the forward press and finding players out wide pic.twitter.com/BDtlNKZEL4
— Bhoys Analytics (@BhoysAnalytics) March 25, 2022
As far back as March, Patrick Caskie, a regular contributor to This is Ibrox and The Rangers Review identified him for a cut-price deal but our summer is halfway through Bodo/Glimt’s and they would be unlikely to sanction any move. He did provide analytical insight into just how effective a stopper Haikin is though.
I liked him a lot as well, noticed his deal runs out this December though I doubt Bodo/Glimt would be willing to play ball in the summer, halfway through what will likely be a tight title race. The same data filtered against his peers in the Eliteserien pic.twitter.com/z8fXTr31tY
— Patrick Caskie (@patrickcaskie) March 25, 2022
As Celtic have found out to their £5million cost, replacing a keeper isn’t always as straightforward as just going out and signing an international keeper with experience of playing at a decent level. That risk is significantly reduced if you aren’t paying a transfer fee.
There seem to be a few decent bargains kicking about Europe just now and we need an overhaul but, starting from the back is always how good sides are rebuilt. It’s an open goal for Ross Wilson to get this one done.