Rangers face colossal competition to secure Bollklubben Häcken midfielder Silas Sinan Erhen Thorup Andersen (or Silas Andersen to you and I).
The Danish defensive midfielder, currently in the Allsvenskan with Häcken, is facing a likely summer transfer switch, and is currently on holiday having been overlooked by Graham Potter for the Swedish world cup squad.
He has already confirmed he is extremely interested in a move to Portuguese giants Sporting:
“It is really huge and a massive compliment that they have noticed me here at Häcken. I am genuinely very happy about that. I am going to miss Sweden because it has really been a very good place for me. But now we will see what Erik (Friberg, sporting director) says. I am sure he will update me, perhaps after the match against Hammarby. Right now there is not very much to say. I did not know I cost that much, but apparently I am an expensive player. If it goes through, I will be really, really happy.”
At the time Sporting had bid €6.5M but this was rejected as too low.
However, Rangers’ interest is there too. Alongside Celtic, Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V., Wolves, Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. and Trabzonspor Kulübü.
Or timmy, Cologne, Wolves, Hamburg and Trabzonspor to us Laymen and women.
The point is Rangers will have to bid in the region of €10M to secure Anderson. But he’s already on record as confirming Portugal would be a prime choice.
His agent (Niclas Jensen) adds:
“Interest in Silas is increasing and has been during the last few windows. Big clubs from Germany and Portugal are showing their seriousness, and we hope that he can take a good step to a higher level.”
It’s abundantly clear if the right number comes in they’ll sell, with Sporting Director Erik Friberg adding:
“We’re going to sell someone. This we will do. I can’t promise that Silas will stay. Nothing is clear yet; we’ll see where it goes.”
And Andersen has made it plain that Sporting would be his preference.
But he just wants the next stage in his career. At just 21, he’s got the world (and choice) at his feet.
Whether he remains in Rangers’ sights at this point remains to be seen.