Why Rangers want to sign a £5m star like Cerny

Derek McInnes sparked rumors on Sunday when he told Glasgow Rangers fans he hoped to be signed within the next 48 hours from then.

The next day, it was revealed that the Light Blues are filling the void for the signing of Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya before the first game of the Scottish Premiership against Dundee United on Friday.

Rangers are expected to pay £3m to bring the South African to Ibrox to bolster McInnes’ options at the back, and it remains to be seen whether he will be available for the first game of the campaign.

The Gers are looking to make further additions behind Makhanya, however, as they are said to be eyeing a deal to sign Vaclav Cerny from Besiktas for £8.5m.

Big mistake made by Rangers and Vaclav Cerny

Signing the Czech international for £8.5m this summer will shine a light on the club’s big mistake with the winger at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Cerny spent the season on loan at Ibrox after Wolfsburg loan signings Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen, scoring 18 goals and providing nine assists in that time.

However, despite his exceptional form for the club at the time, new manager and sporting director Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell opted against the striker permanently, allowing Besiktas to swoop in and sign him from Wolfsburg for £6m.

The Scottish giants blew the chance to sign him for £2.5m cheaper than they would have to pay to bring him to Ibrox this summer, while missing out on a season of performances for the exciting striker.

Martin and Thelwell both left Glasgow after less than half a season at the club, and their fallout with Cerny was one of many contributing factors.

Rangers are in talks to sign their next Vaclav Cerny

Instead of shelling out the better part of £10m to bring the 28-year-old star back to Ibrox, however, the club could look to a younger version of the Czech wizard.

The Daily Record reports that Glasgow Rangers are interested in a deal to sign Amario Cozier-Dubbery from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion this summer.

Fresh club-to-club talks have opened between the two sides over a transfer for the 21-year-old talent, who spent last season on loan at Bolton.

The report claims that Anderlecht have already had a £5m offer rejected for the striker, meaning the Gers will have to go over £5m if they want to sign him permanently.

Rangers will have to work hard to agree a deal with Brighton for the 21-year-old talent because he is cut from the same cloth as Cerny, and may not cost as much as £8.5m.

The Light Blues, in theory, could land a similar player to the Czech international for less money, while he is also seven years younger than the former Ibrox star.

Cozier-Dubbery is a left-footed striker with the ability to provide a consistent threat as a goalscorer and goal-scorer at the other end of the pitch, as evidenced by his form for Bolton on loan in League One of late.

The former Arsenal Academy player has fared better than his xG, as Cerny did for Rangers in the Premiership during his time at the club, and hit double figures for assists in the third tier of English football.

Brighton’s young star would offer the same kind of tactical flexibility to McInnes as Cerny would, as he would arrive in Glasgow as the only left-footed winger in the club.

The Gers need more variety in their wide options, as all their current options are right backs, and Cozier-Dubbery will provide that, as well as being a quality operator who can be a difference maker in the final third.

He may not be as experienced or proven as Cerny, who has shown he can play in a Rangers shirt, but his form last season suggests he has the potential to make an impact at the other end of the pitch.

Therefore, McInnes can forget about forcing the 49ers to spend £8.5m on the Besiktas striker and, instead, prioritize the signing of Cozier-Dubbery from Brighton to strengthen his attack.