Confirmed:Eduard Spertsyan chooses Rangers over Celtic as the Gers are ready to break Tore Andre Flo transfer fee

Confirmed:Eduard Spertsyan chooses Rangers over Celtic as the Gers are ready to break Tore Andre Flo transfer fee

Of all the players on Rangers’ transfer wishlist in 2024,

a midfielder deemed ‘one of the greatest in Europe’ after scoring double digits in goals and assists last season is possibly the most ambitious.

HITC revealed earlier in April that Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic had been made aware of Eduard Spertsyan,

the Krasnodar talisman’s probable availability.

Philippe Clement’s side also likes him. Why shouldn’t they?

Nikola Elich, the former deputy head coach of the Krasnodar academy,

may have gone a touch crazy when describing the Armenia international as one of Europe’s best midfielders.

But Spertsyan is one of the Russian Premier League’s major starts these days and,

with all due respect to Scotland’s own top division,

is a player who could be forgiven for aiming a little higher, perhaps at one of Europe’s so-called ‘top-five’ divisions.

“He deserves to play in the biggest clubs in Spain or Germany,” said Borussia Monchengladbach striker Grant-Leon Ranos,

one of Spertsyan’s Armenia teammates (Metaratings).

“I believe Spertsyan is ready to move to Europe. Edo possesses significant potential and a good level of play.

He will require time to adjust to his surroundings and level of play, as well as to learn the language. I believe he can handle it.”

Rangers confront significant struggle pursuing Eduard Spertsyan.

Thus, any Rangers pursuit will be fraught with challenges.

There is interest from a variety of clubs throughout the continent,

as well as the very real prospect that British-based clubs will be barred from doing business with Russian teams owing to the current Ukrainian conflict.

Chelsea encountered comparable issues when seeking to buy Arsen Zakharyan from Dinamo Moscow,

and the kid ended up at Real Sociedad instead.

And then there’s the cost to consider. Spertsyan has stated that Krasnodar is expected to want roughly 15 million.

Or £13 million, if you like. Dimitry Seluk, a well-connected operative in Russia, has heard comparable estimates from his own sources.

“Spertsyan’s contract runs until 2026. In principle, he could depart.

But Russian teams are demanding such high salaries for all players with valid contracts that the question of price and quality emerges,” Seluk tells MetaRatings.

“Krasnodar requested 15 million euros. And I’m not sure if the interested clubs are willing to pay that much for him.”

Midfielder will cost a record-breaking fee.

The Rangers have only once paid an eight-figure sum. And it was more than 20 years ago,

when Tore Andre Flo left Chelsea for Glasgow.

The Premier League rivals did, however, invest lavishly last summer on players such as Cyriel Dessers.

And money will be available again if they qualify for the Champions League.

But, regardless of how great Spertsyan is,

would it make sense to spend the majority of their budget on one player when they may also need reinforcements at left-back,

centre-half, defensive midfield, and up front?

Abdallah Sima, the Brighton loanee, is expected to consume a significant chunk of Clement’s cash if Rangers sign the fast Senegalese international on a permanent basis.

RangersNews learnt this week that Brighton are increasingly interested in selling Sima,

although the exact price has yet to be determined.

“This was the ideal team for me, as a young player, to gain games and experience.

Collaboration among teammates is quite beneficial.

There are some seasoned players. So I’m very delighted to be here,” Sima said on the Rangers’ official YouTube page last week.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a season like this. But I am a winner, and I want to win everything here.

This is why I joined the club.

So I aim to give my all for this team and the supporters, because they deserve it.

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