Martin Skrtel to Rangers rests on one thing – Turkish media

Martin Skrtel has confirmed discussions with Rangers but the Slovakian’s wage demands have scuppered the deal, according to Turkish media.

The former Liverpool stopper is now a free agent, but it’s been confirmed his wage demands total £50,000 a week which is far beyond anything Rangers can either afford or would be willing to pay for a defender of his age, or, frankly, any player at this time.

With a roof of around £20,000 (Joe Aribo’s salary is in that region) Skrtel wanting almost three times that number is simply too high, and unless the former Fenerbahce man wants to cut his demands considerably, it’s a deal that just can’t happen.

Rangers are close to the signature of Filip Helander, subject to a medical, and his wages will be a tonne more modest, while the pursual of the Swedish international, 26, is likely a major nod to the financial impossibility of nabbing up Skrtel.

The ex-team mate of Gerrard has been a strong link with Rangers since Stevie took the helm, but his wages have been an issue from the start, and even though Skrtel was already willing to take a paycut from around £60,000 a week to roughly £50K, it evidently isn’t enough to make his salary fall in line with Rangers’ payroll structure.

We can’t see this one happening unless one side changes their demands. And that side won’t be Rangers.