Rangers are one of four clubs interested in signing Saint-Etienne winger Denis Bouanga, according to reports in the French media.
The Europa League finalists have been joined by Los Angeles FC, Anderlecht and Club Brugge in pursuing the Gabonese international.
MLS side LAFC are believed to have already tabled a €3.5m (£3m) bid for Bouanga, but Saint-Etienne are keen to offload him for €5m (£4.2m) despite the player having less than a year left on his contract. Fans on Twitter are rather sceptical about the Gers’ interest, considering the club has already recruited the likes of Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence this summer:
Not sure another winger is required
— Sir Dickie O’Davis (@howudiddling) August 4, 2022
Need a playmaker first & foremost.
— David (@David67627162) August 4, 2022
Needing a box to box, creative number 8 before another winger you’d think eh
— Azuri’s Daddy (@RFC_9685) August 4, 2022
Think it was saying we enquired about him but possibly before we bought Matondo
— Magz.WATP🇬🇧 🌺 (@Odiepops) August 4, 2022
gvb already said we weren’t signing anyone else unless players left so i doubt this is even real
— Ryan (@Ryane1872) August 4, 2022
We need an 8 not a striker – missing a box to box midfielder who scored and creates
— Greatest Biotech mind of a Generation (@spiderPiglets) August 4, 2022
As one supporter has suggested, there is a possibility that Bouanga is being eyed as a potential replacement for Ryan Kent, although there could be another explanation.
The 27-year-old may well have been a target for Rangers earlier in the transfer window before they cooled their interest in the player.