Rangers have today been linked as ‘closing in’ on a move for Swede Filip Helander, with Bologna’s 26-year old defender said to be costing Rangers over £4M.
On the surface a Swedish international at 26 with a CV like Malmo, Hellas and Bologna doesn’t seem half bad, and while we’re pleased to see a highly-rated international heavily linked with a switch to Ibrox for the first serious money we’ve spent in a decade, equally Helander’s injury history is deeply worrying.
Never having played more than 28 league matches in a season, his career is littered with bench and injury, and last campaign in Serie A saw him miss a tonne of matches with lack of fitness and problems with a reoccurring knee injury.
Eight-times capped for his country, Helander is a colossal stopper at 6ft 4, who is said to be strong aerially while being comfortable with the ball at his feet, but it’s that injury history we’re concerned by.
In the rugged SPL, a player who breaks down this much and has only 158 senior league appearances at 26 is a slightly worrying target to be going for.
If he is who Steven Gerrard is making a move for, and at £4M+, we sure as hell hope our manager knows what he’s doing.
I trust Steven Gerrard and Mark Allen and co and I am sure they will look long and hard and do the correct medical and physiological checks . I think I would prefer looking at England again if the money is anything near 4 Million though.
Every signing has an element of risk. The last time we spent big money-£3 million for Goldstone, he had hardly played for 18 months because of a heart condition. He has hardly missed s game on 2 whole seasons.
Our recruitment team is the best in Scotland and as Billb said im sure we will pick up any issues in the medical.
Can't wait for the season to start
Are you serious, our recruitment since coming back into the SPFL has been shocking, buy 10+ players a season for only 1 or 2 working out.
This guy's seems good but it's a punt really. If it wasn't for his injury history we wouldn't get him for £4m
I'm on the fence with this one. He's obviously playing in an excellent league and can no doubt play a bit, but as you say, there is a few injury concerns! Gotta just hope for the best I suppose..and a thorough medical.
Mmmmm…injury issues of the joint type coming into one of the roughest leagues in Europe?
We shall see.
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