When Rangers had enough cash to cover Luca Langoni’s release cost in the summer, they made the decision to purchase Danilo and Cyriel Dessers, according to Mark Hendry.
On January 16, the Football Scotland editor revealed via X that the Boca Juniors attacker was the focus of a summer approach during Michael Beale’s tenure, during which the club discovered he would require £10 million.
Although Langoni is being linked again this month, the former Light Blues manager opted to spend the money on the two strikers at Ibrox instead.
Hendry stated: “Under Michael Beale, Rangers did approach Langoni in the summer and could have paid a fee, but were informed that the release clause was £10 million.”
“Eventually, money was spent on Danilo and Cyriel Dessers.”
At the beginning of the January transfer window, the Gers allegedly made another attempt to sign the 21-year-old, as new manager Philippe Clement continues to look to bolster the team.
Finished up?
Whether Rangers would have been better off at this point in the season had they opted to spend big on Langoni when they first had the opportunity is impossible to determine.
That’s a lot of money to invest on any player, let alone a young player whose adaptability to the SPFL is uncertain.
However, the winger, who has 10 goals in 45 games for his team, is excellent enough that Fulham, Sevilla, and Nice, respectively, are interested in signing him for the Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1.
Alternatives to Dessers and Danilo would have been needed in the summer regardless of how inconsistent their tenure at Ibrox was due to a mix of form and injury issues.
The striker position would have been filled by Sam Lammers, who scored twice in 31 games before going out on loan once more this month, and Kemar Roofe, who has only made 15 appearances this season and started just six of them, if the two hadn’t combined for 15 goals.
No matter how much they like him, Rangers will never be able to spend £10 million on Langoni this month. If interest in the player persists, however, they will need to be persuaded in the summer.
