What we’ve found this summer is that there will be plenty of players linked with a move, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we want to make a bid for them but that we have identified them as players who fit the profile of what we need.
As with our own players, Ross Wilson and his team will have a valuation of each target and, when we acquire about the availability of potential targets, if they are too expensive, we will simply move on.
This appears to be the case with Angelo Fulgini who has now joined Bundesliga side Mainz, an indication that, for some, a team in a “top five” league is a step up, however, The 4th Official has claimed that it was a deal that was never likely to happen for Rangers:
“Fulgini on the other hand seems to have slipped away from Rangers’ grasp and not for the lack of trying. However, the reality is that a German club has more financial leverage than Rangers.
“I reported at the time that the player wanted Rangers and that was subsequently reported everywhere. But it seems that wasn’t enough as the £6million ask turned out to be too great.
“If you read my last column on the matter, you would see that I said that the transfer fee is going to be an issue but what was helping Rangers was the player wanting to come.
“Apparently, that wasn’t enough.”
It looks like Rangers were quoted a price, said “no chance” and then started to look elsewhere. With us puling out of the race, the path was clear for Mainz to sign Fulgini.
Almost immediately after the Fulgini to Mainz story broke, Rangers were linked with Malik Tillman of Bayern Munich, who plays in exactly the same position but is bigger physically, younger, and probably worth the sort of fee that has been mentioned seeing as he has more time on his hands to develop.
What we do know is that we will sign someone other than Tom Lawrence to replace Joe Aribo, a proper number ten, for those worried about missing out on Fulgini, have a look at the business we’ve done so far – Fulgini’s loss will be someone else’s gain.