The season of random transfer links is well and truly underway, and today it’s the turn of Antwerp’s Willian Pacho, an Ecuadorian defender who, at 21, has a current value of £4M and is contracted in the Jupiler Pro for another three years.

It’s another Belgium-based player Rangers are linked to, after three signings from that league already made (Hagi, Sakala and Roofe), with varying levels of success among them.

But we certainly do need defenders, and this guy at 6ft 1 is a tall defender who is said to be a very, very strong and robust lad, like Niko Katic, but with an infinitely smarter reading of the game than the Croat.

Imagine the human cannon ball that was the-now Zurich man, but add finesse, intelligence and timing, and that’s Pacho.

Now, if he’s the ultimate defender, why is he still in Belgium and has no caps for Ecuador? Good question, one we don’t have the answer to. He’s said to have a slightly weak tackle, in the sense he doesn’t really make them, and that’s a bit of a boob for a centre back, along with the fact when he goes for them, he mistimes them a bit and fouls.

But that’s really it – he’s almost the complete defender, and it’s no surprise Rangers are interested – we’re sure other clubs will be too, and with 17 appearances this season already, he’s clearly an established first team player for Antwerp.

Cost? Well he’s wanted by Monaco, who just lost their star man to Chelsea, so they are looking at Pacho as a very cost-effective replacement, but it could infinitely drive his price up, and well out of Rangers’ range, into the £10M ballpark.

Antwerp are protected by his contract, his performances, and the fact a rich team like Monaco are looking at him.

If Rangers are to get him, he won’t be cheap. Out of our range? Very likely, Rangers have barely £2M to play with this window, and £10M+ is certainly too high – Chelsea’s signing of Badiashile changed things for this one, and the timing has hurt Rangers’ chances.

We’ll see how it goes.