Rangers now interested in bringing £6m Premier League defender to Ibrox

Philippe Clement has already secured his first signing as Rangers boss with striker Fabio Silva arriving on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rangers still need further recruits this month and we could understand the signing of a centre back. Connor Goldson remains a reliable defender but Ben Davies, John Souttar and Leon Balogun aren’t the long-term solutions alongside him. That may tempt Rangers into signing a centre back and a Premier League defender is now on the radar… TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook now reports that Rangers are interested in signing Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna. It’s stated that Celtic are keen too, meaning there is a real Glasgow battle emerging for McKenna’s signature. We recently suggested that McKenna is a player Rangers should be looking to bring to Ibrox.

McKenna has been frozen out at Forest over an alleged dispute surrounding his contract at the City Ground. The 27-year-old has just a few months left on his contract and Forest seemingly want to cash in during the January window. McKenna hasn’t played a single game for Forest since a 1-1 draw with Burnley in September and seemingly has no future at Forest.

Firstly, his contract situation is very appealing and is reminiscent of Rangers pouncing for Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin last year. Those deals were great value for money and were a fine example of Rangers getting in to secure a signing before increased summer competition. Secondly, McKenna already knows Scottish football very well. Previously an impressive defender for Aberdeen, McKenna is a proven commodity in Scottish football and wouldn’t need a transition period in the Scottish game.

Then you factor in McKenna’s comfort as a left-sided centre back – something Rangers have struggled to find since Calvin Bassey’s exit – and he seems to be the ideal target. Whether Rangers can pip Celtic to his signature remains to be seen but he certainly makes sense as a top January target. This is a deal Rangers simply have to push for as McKenna ticks the boxes for a number of reasons. McKenna earned real hype at Aberdeen and was the subject of speculation for a long time before finally leaving in 2020.

Forest struck a package deal worth £6million, made up of £3million up front and another £3million in add-ons. McKenna would be available for a much lower price tag now with Forest just months away from losing him for nothing. That should attract Rangers with McKenna approaching his prime years and representing a potential bargain.

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