Rangers have kept a tight ship when it has come to transfer rumours this summer, except when the selling club or player has leaked that the Ibrox side may be interested, and one story has emerged over the weekend with Egyptian youth international Mahmoud Saber claiming that he has been offered a contract.
The Daily Record reports that Saber, unimaginatively dubbed “the new Mo Salah”, is weighing up his options after leaving Al-Ahly without signing professional terms:
“Because I have never signed a professional contract with Al-Ahly, I am deemed an amateur player and can sign for a new club for nothing.
“I have offers from Rangers in Scotland, Valencia in Spain and Benfica from Portugal as well as a big club in Tunisia. I will make my decision soon.
“I have European agents sorting my future and I hope to be in a position to sign for my new club shortly.”
The 18-year old – according to Transfermarkt – is capable of playing anywhere down the right-hand side and was, as reported by The Record, being lined up by Stoke City after scoring eight goals and contributing 30 assists in his side’s Egyptian youth league triumph.
Steven Gerrard is happy with the backing he has received so far but will no doubt still be on the look out for potential options having secured the signatures of Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe just last week.
Do you expect further signings to be made to strengthen the first team at Rangers?
Yes
No
Despite only being 18, Saber’s ability to fit into Rangers system of playing with attacking full-backs makes sense, although with Nathan Patterson the undisputed back-up to James Tavernier and the Egyptian youth international’s lack of senior action it may be that he is being lined-up for the academy rather than for a place in the first-team.
There is still a long way to go in the transfer window and it is expected that there will be departures as well as the possibility of a couple of new faces as the Gers gaffer fine tunes his squad ahead of what is shaping up to be a monumental season.