Rangers transfer scouting: Europa League foe that could fill right-wing slot

Plan B or C may just become Plan A diverting Rangers' recruitment down a different path. Regardless of players leaving or what competition Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men play in, one thing is for certain, the Ibrox club need a new forward on the right side. So let's play a game of what if.

What if the plan is to recruit a right winger before Champions League qualifying comes around? This would likely be a player in the standard fee range Rangers shop in, more akin to Kemar Roofe rather than Ryan Kent.

Here are some suggestions:

1) Marco Grull - Rapid Vienna - 23 years old

A right footer that plays on the left with good size and athleticism. Grull is an Austrian international who's all about shots, goals and assists. He's got a similar goal record to Manprit Sarkaria (below) albeit Grull scored five goals in Europe last year. His signing would probably mean Kent playing on the right with Grull occupying the left flank but he's an instant starter regardless. His estimated cost is around £3.5m with a contract to 2024.

2) Manprit Sarkaria - Sturm Graz - 25 years old

A left-footed player who can play on the right and through the middle. He's got great size, decent athleticism, can dribble and can shoot well, especially cutting in on his left. He scored 47 goals across the last four seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga and division below. His estimated cost is around £2.5m and contracted to 2025.

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Number three would've been Ola Solbakken but it sounds like he's asking for a lottery win each week as a wage so that rules him out. Jens Odgaard was my number one choice but he was snapped up by AZ Alkmaar.

That's two players who can come in and be that wide goalscorer that Rangers require with the funds that are likely available to do it. The problem with those two players is that they can help get you into the Champions League but not necessarily two that would cope with playing in the competition itself.

What if Rangers wanted to sign a player that could fire them into the Champions League and do a good job when they got there? That's a bigger investment. That's Kent-type money.

Here are some suggestions:

1) Abdallah Sima - Brighton - 21 years old

Maybe the most feasible out of the three, he was the best player in the Czech Republic in the 2020-21 season for Slavia Prague. That outstanding form earned him a €6.7m move to the Premier League promised land. Last season was a write-off as he spent the season injured instead of playing on loan at Stoke City. Brighton may not be prepared to let him go permanently but hopefully, Seagulls Technical Director David Weir allows Rangers a loan to buy at least. He'd be a superb signing and the club would surely get their investment back in transfer fees alone.

2) David Okereke - Club Brugge - 24 years old

Perhaps the ideal profile that Rangers need. A wide man that thinks like a number nine. Can play anywhere across the front three and has scored goals in Serie A and Belgium. A threat in behind and a target at crosses, he spent last season on loan at Venezia and would become the best forward at the club. Club Brugge spent €8m on him but both parties expect a divorce. Contracted to 2023, the Belgian outfit expect their money back. The estimated cost would be around £7m - so a significant, perhaps unrealistic outlay without a significant sale.

3) Tino Kadewere - Lyon - 26 years old

He was terrific for Le Havre and enjoyed a good first season in Ligue 1 but his time appears to be up at Lyon. Contracted to 2024, his cost is likely to be somewhere around £5m.

Those mentioned above are more dead certs in terms of getting into the big competition and doing well in it whilst also ripping up the Scottish Premiership. We've looked at decent fees and big fees which leaves one route. Loans.

Rangers are looking for players who have done well in a similar league but probably got a move that they weren't ready for or players who simply haven't found the right place for their talent.

Here are two terrific options:

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1) Dennis Man - Parma - 23 years old

The winger's last season in Romania was absolutely obscene with 18 appearances, 14 goals and six assists. Man is a left-footer who played off the right-hand side in those days and battered the goal. He had some possession issues but utilised his great movement to score goals. For all his talent, he wasn't quite ready for a top five league move - then he got one.

He struggled in Serie A with Parma and hasn't done much better in Serie B as he finds himself playing as a wing-back. He needs out and Rangers need someone on the right who can cut in and score. Parma seems a bit of a shambles again as they paid €13m for him so a loan seems like the most logical option. He should've moved to a club like Rangers when leaving Romania and a deal would be a good chance to put his career back on track.

2) Krepin Diatta - Monaco - 23 years old

A phenomenal first six months of 20/21 earned Diatta a €16.7m to Monaco. Last season was a disaster as he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. The Senegalese is more of a winger than the players mentioned earlier.

He is good when going one-on-one, can go inside and outside and can glide past players with ease. It's doubtful Monaco will want to part ways but a loan to get him playing again might be on the cards. Contracted to 2025, it would likely be a season-long loan without an option to buy.

If you want a wildcard option then Anthony Musaba is one to consider. He was completely misused at Heerenveen but impressed on loan at Cercle Brugge and at NEC Nijmegen. He's someone who could develop into an Okereke or Kadewere type player.

Monaco likely won't use him next season so a permanent deal or loan with an option to buy are both considerations. If they are selling I'd imagine the fee to be between £2m-£3m. He'd be the biggest punt.

Right forward is the most urgent need for Rangers and we'll find out soon enough if it's plan A, B or C that's the chosen path.