Recently reports (Daily Record) had emerged that Rangers are eyeing a deal for NK Osijek’s striker Mirko Maric. The report added that the forward was being valued at £3m and his recent form inspired Rangers into monitoring his situation in the transfer market. The Gers are seemingly creating a strong relationship with Croatian outfit Osijek as last summer also they signed two players from them in the form of Eros Grezda and Borna Barisic.
Update from Osijek’s Sporting Director
Recently Osijek’s sporting director Alen Petrovic gave an update on the future of their striker and said (Daily Record), ”There is interest in the player from many countries such as the UK, including England, Italy and Germany. Significant interest in the player is only to be expected when he is the top goalscorer in the league.”
”Any player of Mirko’s style would be a force in another country, but we don’t even know yet if we will sell him this summer or not. I can confirm he’s an excellent player, an elegant number nine who is as comfortable scoring goals as linking up to the play around him.”
“That’s all we’re willing to say at the moment. There have been no official moves made as yet, and that suits us as we concentrate on finishing our season with a place in the Europa League.”
A blow for Gerrard?
Petrovic has made it clear that Rangers are not going to find it easy to sign him in the summer as clubs from top footballing countries are also keeping an eye on the striker. This should come as a blow to Rangers as they are unlikely to compete with clubs from the Premier League, Bundesliga or the Serie A.
Why will Rangers need a striker in the summer and what now?
Alfredo Morelos will continue to attract interest from various clubs, and we expect Gerrard to sell the player if they get the right bid for the Colombian. Recently Gerrard had lashed out at Kyle Lafferty for his lackadaisical performance against Liverpool’s u-23, and the big striker’s future also looks uncertain at the club after he failed to make any impact this season.
The club will be left with just Jermain Defoe as the only plausible option, and it is understandable why Gerrard is looking at someone like Maric. Rangers have to go in hard for Maric early in the transfer window and should be ready to switch targets if there is real interest from any top clubs for the player.
What will Maric bring to Ibrox?
The 23-year-old striker has good all-around abilities as a striker as he is strong on the ball but is also a willing runner in between the opposition’s defence lines. The Croatian international has managed sixteen goals this season including six assists which suggests that he can even link up play well.
However, Gerrard and Co need to tread carefully as their previous signings from Osijek failed to produce the goods at Ibrox even though they were highly rated.
