With Rangers preparing in earnest already for next season, Ibrox Noise understands a decision, for now, has been taken over in-form Nasser Djiga.
The Burkinabé international is due to return to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer, with his Rangers loan containing no option for permanent purchase.
However, internal discussions have taken place over such a transfer regardless, but sources have told Ibrox Noise Rangers are unwilling to match Wolves’ asking price.
Wolves
Currently the Premier League side, rock bottom of England’s top flight, are on the way back to the Championship. Djiga has no interest in playing in that division. We understand Rangers don’t want to spend Wolves’ £9M asking price. With Wolves having originally shelled out £10M on him in the first place.
There are a number of reasons for this. The main one is the sheer waste of expense the club has thrown in the last two transfer windows.
A number of expensive signings have not worked out. These include Youssef Chermiti, Oliver Antman, and as yet, Ryan Naderi, not to mention Djiedi Gassama. The board has no desire to spend close to a club record on Djiga. The former Red Star stopper has started to win fans over the past month or two, but it took him a while. £9M is a lot for what Rangers have had so for in him.
Red Star
Ironically, it’s his former employers Red Star (Crvena Zvezda) who are looking at bringing him back to the Eastern Bloc. This is after they learned of Rangers’ reticence at shelling that money out.
Serbian sources describe the potential transfer to the Balkans as ‘complicated’. That’s Serbian talk for ‘too expensive’.
As things stand, Djiga is playing Championship football next season, because Wolves want close to full price for him.
Even relegation doesn’t change that much because the Championship remains by far the most lavish and wealthy ‘second division’ in world football, surpassing most top flights.
But many players will still leave the Molineux if the side goes down. Ultimately there’ll be something of a fire sale.
Just don’t expect too many bargains in there.
If Rangers can get Djiga’s price closer to £5M a deal might be possible, but as it stands, he’s going to be leaving.
Reports that there’s an option to buy in his contract are untrue.