Major Fenerbahce blow softened by news £6.4m Croatian international could return v Rangers
Major Fenerbahce blow softened by news £6.4m Croatian international could return v Rangers
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho insists it’s not over in the Europa League just yet as Rangers prepare to welcome the Turks to Glasgow.
Rangers stunned Fenerbahce in Istanbul with an impressive 3-1 away day victory in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium that sent a shockwave around Europe.
But speaking after the match Jose Mourinho urged Rangers to cool their celebrations with a second leg to come at Ibrox and the tie still very much in the balance.
Mourinho insists things will be different when Fred returns, the influential Brazilian midfielder suspended for the first leg in Turkey.
But the former Manchester United star’s comeback has been caveated with the news that another key player has officially been ruled out of the clash with Rangers.
Fenerbahce defender to miss Rangers clash
Rangers fans might remember Caglar Soyuncu from the long-haired centre-back’s time with Leicester City.
But the 28-year-old Turkish international centre-back has been officially ruled out of the clash with Rangers at Ibrox due to an internal bleed.
In a message on their official Facebook account, Fenerbahce have confirmed the player has picked up the issue in his right thigh muscle and will now miss ‘a period of time’:
”Caglar Soyuncu had an MRI scan and bleeding was detected in the right thigh muscle and he has now started treatment to return and will be missing for a period of time.”
The 28-year-old Turkish centre-back’s distinctive appearance and all-action, physical style make him a stand-out in most teams that he plays for.
Soyuncu is now back in Turkey with Fenerbahce after the Turks activated a €8m (£6.7m) option-to-buy in the summer (Marca) following an initial six month loan from Atletico Madrid.
The defender was heavily involved in the opening stages of Rangers’ visit to Fenerbahce, the defender stretching to try and clear Cyriel Dessers’ goal-bound shot off the line.
Whilst the ball would just creep over the line, Soyuncu injured himself in the process and it is a costly moment which is set to see the centre-back miss the return to Ibrox.
Fenerbahce goalkeeper to earn Rangers recall?
Fenerbahce are also considering recalling Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to their team for the trip to Rangers next week.
Jose Mourinho opted to start with Turkish goalie Irfan Can Egribayat for the first leg in Istanbul but could recall the 30-year-old to the starting XI in Glasgow.
Fenerbahce signed a €7.6m (£6.4m) to sign Livakovic from Dinamo Zagreb but the goalkeeper has found himself sidelined in recent months with a thigh injury.
Such transfer fees highlight the substantial difference in costs between the Rangers and Fenerbahce squads.
The goalkeeper has been named on the bench for Fenerbahce’s last few matches, including the 3-1 defeat to Rangers in the Europa League.
Livakovic was strongly linked with a move to Celtic in the summer before the Parkhead side plunged for Kasper Schmeichel.
Fenerbahce will also have one-time Rangers target Bright Osayi-Samuel available for selection after the ex-QPR winger was suspended for the first leg in Turkey.
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