Rangers are in talks to sign £6m star McInnes

There appears to have been a real change in thinking at Glasgow Rangers, the Ibrox side, now led by Derek McInnes, appear to be pursuing a new transfer model this summer.

As recently as January, the priority seemed to be signing young, unknown talents from abroad, with Ryan Naderi, Tuur Rommens and Tochi Chukwuani all arriving under Danny Rohl’s watch.

This desire to find players that they can sell is still there, although the Gers now seem to have the intention of buying the Scottish core in Glasgow, pursuing those who are already there and what they have done in the Premiership.

The most notable of those, of course, is Lawrence Shankland, however McInnes could be in line for a reunion this summer, amid interest from the Gers in a certain Ross McCrorie.

Rangers have opened talks to sign the £6m defender and McCrorie

Vaclav Cerny appears to be in line for an Ibrox return, as is McCrorie, the 28-year-old who is closing in on a Rangers return home five years on from his permanent move to Aberdeen.

The defender – who played under McInnes at Pittodrie – looks set to seal a return to Glasgow, with a deal to be done with a year remaining on his current contract at Bristol City.

He is expected to be the first signing of McInnes’ new era, although work is still ongoing on other moves, by all accounts.

Indeed, according to reports across the continent, Rangers are among a group of clubs interested in Swedish defender Zinedine Smajlovic, although rivals Celtic are said to be stepping up their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

The Parkhead side have tabled an improved bid of €6.5m (£6m), but are expected to face stiff competition for his signature.

Rangers are one of many keeping tabs on the Sanefjord defender, and the report suggests that McInnes and his team-mates are holding talks themselves, after fielding enquiries.

Why Smajlovic would be a better player than McCrorie

It’s a time dominated by youth-oriented transfer policies, where clubs have the opportunity to look for future stars, sometimes at the expense of the main goal of football – to win games now.

There seems to be some understanding of that at Ibrox, hence the shift to ready-made, experienced additions, such as both Shankland and McCrorie.

There is wisdom in those deals as both men know what it takes to shine in the Premiership, McCrorie having played 170 games during his time with the Gers and Dons.

The Scotsman has two caps in two games and is a man in form following a strong campaign in the EFL Championship, scoring and assisting nine goals while operating as either a full-back or a full-back.

He is a solid, versatile asset who could fill a number of roles at Ibrox next season, a smart signing even if there is no prospect of selling him to make a profit later down the line.

If you’re looking for something more exciting, with more potential, however, than Smajlovic can be the man, the in-demand youngster looks like a force to be reckoned with in the center of defense.

A tall, eye-catching figure at 6 foot 3, there is almost a young Virgil van Dijk feel in his game, willing and able to carry the ball without defending, while proving something of a monster in both boxes.

In a game that has seen him work in Scandinavia, apart from a stint with Lecce in Italy, Smajlovic has been impressive in front of goal, scoring ten goals in just 62 games in all competitions.

That’s a good return for any defender, actually matching McCrorie’s record of ten goals in those 170 games at Pittodrie and Ibrox.

A powerhouse of talent, the £6m man has that ability to dive forward from the back, averaging a stellar 1.3 successful dribbles per game in Norway’s top flight this season.

In comparison, current Gers star Emmanuel Fernandez averaged just 0.4 of those in the Premiership, while back in England, even McCrorie was no match for a full-back, with just 0.6 successful dribbles.

Most importantly, Smajlovic also offers the benefit of his defensive acumen, boasting 3.3 tackles and a blocked shot per game, as he also averaged 8.2 rebounds.

In McCrorie’s case, he averaged a 2.4 and 3.0 on those same two metrics, respectively.

He is an aggressive, dynamic full-back who looks to be involved on and off the ball, a player who could prove to be a true star in Scottish football.

The Rangers don’t know exactly what they’re getting in terms of McCrorie and his teammates, although the fun part about the young Smajlovic is that his potential is so high.