Rangers scout out two new potential Ibrox left backs

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Rangers scout out two new potential Ibrox left backs
CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 08: Leon Flach #31 of Philadelphia Union signals to teammate Kai Wagner #27 during the first half against D.C. United at Subaru Park on July 08, 2022 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Ibrox Noise understands Rangers have sourced two potential new left backs for the January window in PSV’s Fredrik Oppegard and Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner.

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Both have been scouted and we’ll give some quick rundowns of both men.

Oppegard is 21, like Fabio Silva. He’s a Norway U21 international with 11 appearances in Eindhoven for their senior side and has spent his entire career in their youth system – he is one Nils Koppen knows well, like Silva.

In terms of value he’s a £1M LB, with a modest reputation and he did star in PSVs Europa League win over Bodø/Glimt last year in his homeland of Norway, so he has a little experience and was a late sub at Arsenal in PSV’s Champions League draw at the Emirates.

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He doesn’t scream of a marquee player quite yet but a rising talent, much like Silva, albeit the latter has a £35M price tag on him!

As for Wagner, some press are homing in on him as being the bigger target. This £5M-rated German left back, 26, is out of contract next month and would, naturally, be a free, but his career didn’t really get going till he left modest leagues of lower European football, particularly Germany, and joined America’s top flight where he has 170 appearances.

So after a slow and inconspicuous start to his career, it has become more experienced and grounded in the MLS, but then, Rangers’ acquisitions from that league and market have been… roundly… poor. Only Maurice Edu and Carlos Bocanegra in (relatively) recent times have truly shone. All post-2012 USA-based signings just haven’t done it in Govan at all.

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But it does now look like Rangers are working significantly on areas of the pitch which need enhancements, and with Borna Barisic out of contract in the summer and Ridvan Yilmaz’ future always being uncertain, Philippe Clement wants to get men in in as many areas of the pitch as possible.

Left back may well be one such going by these latest reports.

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