Glasgow Rangers have had their fair share of impressive loan signings over the past few years.
Last season, Abdallah Sima was excellent. After joining on a season-long loan deal from Brighton, he proceeded to score 16 goals across 40 matches for the Ibrox side, winning the League Cup in the process.
The season before that, Malik Tillman was the club’s standout loan performer. The American starlet showed plenty of promise at Bayern Munich, while he registered 17 goal involvements in 43 matches at Rangers.
Given how well the pair performed, there was next to no chance of the Gers securing them on permanent deals.
Ryan Kent, Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis did all make the move to Glasgow after shining on temporary deals, with all three contributing towards the club’s 55th title in 2020/21.
This season, Vaclav Cerny has impressed during his loan spell. The Czech winger made the move to Scotland from Wolfsburg and while it took him a few weeks to settle in, he has shown his true qualities in large spells.
Will the Ibrox side before able to afford a permanent deal? That much remains to be seen.
Vaclav Cerny's future at Rangers
At the time of writing, Cerny has played a total of 49 competitive matches for Rangers, scoring 17 goals and recording seven assists.
Among the squad, he trails only Cyriel Dessers with regard to total goal involvements (24) and it is evident that the former Ajax starlet has been one of the better signings made by the club last summer.
It was in the Europa League where the 27-year-old truly demonstrated his talents. Not only did the winger net six goals from 12 matches, but he also created three big chances, averaged 1.2 key passes and succeeded with 2.2 dribbles – a success rate of 57% – per game in the competition.
It was enough to lead Rangers to the quarter-finals, although they succumbed to Athletic Club.
The Light Blues do not have an option to buy clause for the Czech star in their current loan agreement, which could make it difficult to seal a permanent deal.
Wolfsburg paid £8m to sign Cerny in the summer of 2023 and the German side will likely be aiming to recoup the majority of this fee should they sell him.
Goals
11
Assists
2
Big chances created
6
Key passes per game
2.4
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
Shots per game
2.8
Reports in Turkey claim that Besikas are reportedly keen on making a move for the player when the transfer window opens. He is part of a three-man shortlist and the Turkish outfit certainly have the funds to seal a deal for him in the next few weeks.
While he would make for a solid signing, especially given his form for the club throughout 2024/25, Rangers don’t want to be breaking the bank for just one player.
As such, could the Light Blues target another winger who wont cost nearly as much this summer? Forgetting Cerny in the process.
Rangers search for a new winger
Signing a winger or two this summer should be top of the priority list for the new manager. Of course, his budget will be determined by just how much money the 49ers Enterprises will make available.
According to Africa Foot – as reported earlier this month – Rangers are keen on signing Moussa Djenepo and have reportedly approached him regarding a potential move to Glasgow this summer.
The Standard Liege winger has spent the season on loan at Turkish side Antalyaspor, but the report says he doesn’t want to spend another campaign in the country.
This could open the door for the Ibrox side to make their move, especially as he would only cost a fee in the region of €2m (£1.7m), as this is his release clause.
Aged 26, he might not be one of the youngest members of the squad should he join Rangers, but the winger is approaching his peak years.
Why Rangers should sign Moussa Djenepo
Every African forward at one stage or another wanted to follow in the footsteps of Sadio Mané, who won the Premier League and Champions League for Liverpool.
Speaking in 2020, Djenepo said: “Sadio is a big inspiration for me. I like him, he’s a very big player. But I think I can be better if I work hard. Sadio is a very big player and I’m young and I need to learn more.
“In the future we will see. I will do my best to become the next Sadio Mane.”
He might not have reached those heights (yet), but the Mali international has done rather well for himself of late.
Indeed, the 26-year-old did make the move to Southampton, a club where Mane enjoyed plenty of success, going on to make 73 Premier League appearances at the Saints.
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He may have only registered seven goal contributions in the English top flight, but the experience has helped him become a better player.
His dribbling skills have been on display in the Turkish Süper Lig this term. He averages 2.1 successful dribbles per game – a success rate of 55% – and this is the second-best average in the entire league.
Furthermore, in the Belgian Pro League last season, the £1.7m dynamo registered excellent statistics in the final third.
When compared to his positional peers, the winger ranked in the top 1% for successful take-ons (2.96) and progressive passes received (8.87) and in the top 6% for touches in the opposition penalty area (3.74) per 90 throughout the whole campaign.
He might not have Mane’s eye for goal, but Djenepo is a major threat in the final third, being able to successfully beat his man on a regular basis.
Add in the fact he is capable of making runs into the opposition penalty area, he certainly displays some of Mane’s traits, that’s for sure.
What the Light Blues need is a winger just like him, particularly if Cerny does not stay put permanently. The goals will come, but having a player able to take on their opponent and get into the box is a must for the club next season.
Enter Djenepo.
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