If a report from Footmercato is believed to be true, Rangers are set to face competition from Strasbourg for the signing of potential long-term transfer target Zinedine Ferhat. The attacker has entered the final year of his Nimes contract and, therefore, is set to move on following the Crocodiles’ Ligue 2 relegation.
Nimes, meanwhile, should welcome a bidding war this summer to make a monetary profit over losing their prized asset depart on Bosman. The 28-year-old Algerian has been the only shining light in a gloomy season as his 6 goals and 10 league assists [stats via Transfermarket] could not stop the French outfit from finishing 19th in the league table.
While the Gers have been keeping close tabs on the player’s situation, the appointment of Julian Stephan as the new ‘coureurs’ chief has handed a blow to the Scottish giants. The young gaffer is willing to rope in the wide forward to improve the 15th-placed side and Ferhat, having spent the past five years in France, might like the idea of continuing in familiar surroundings rather than moving abroad.
The Algeria international was tied down by Le Havre from USM Alger back in summer 2016. However, the esteemed Ligue 2 side could not retain his services beyond 2019 as he opted to join Nimes as a free agent upon the expiration of his three-year contract. Although they narrowly escaped a relegation scare in 2020, the same could not be prevented this year despite his colossal effort down the wide.
Why Rangers Should Step Up The Chase For Ferhat
Rangers, on the other hand, are spot on so far in terms of summer business. Nnamdi Ofoborh and Fashion Sakala were snapped up in pre-contract terms midway through the previous campaign, whereas the influence of Steven Gerrard convinced John Lundstram to ply his trade at Ibrox. All of them have been Bosman signings who saved millions and the addition of Ferhat would indeed bolster the squad ahead of the upcoming term.
The Bears might lose Alfredo Morelos to Porto who have been chasing the Colombian for quite some time. Kemar Roofe and Sakala should be viewed as the preferred ‘number 9’ options if the gaffer chooses not to bring in El Bufalo’s replacement. Cedric Itten and Jermain Defoe must continue as ‘super subs’, but the Bears would need someone to feature from the right-hand flank to challenge and cover Ianis Hagi if Roofe is played as a centre-forward. Scott Wright and Ryan Kent offer depth as well as qualify down the left and the inclusion of the Algerian would restore the balance as he ticks many boxes with his versatility and work rate.