If a report from AfricaFoot is believed to be true, Rangers are in advanced talks with Ferencváros for Adama Traore. But they now have a tough competition from Fenerbahce, particularly after the appointment of Jose Mourinho as the new Yellow Canaries boss.
The 29-year-old Mali international progressed through the academy ranks of Bamako back in his homeland. Later he joined the Congolese outfit TP Mazembe and flourished his skills with first-team football. He enjoyed enormous success in Africa before plying his trade to Europe with French side Metz.
However, it did not work out for him in the Ligue 2 as he mostly spent his time on loan with Orléans and Al-Adalah. Traore left Metz and joined FC Sheriff in Moldova, but the low-key transfer helped him revive his career. He not only scored and helped them win against Shakhtar Donetsk in their first-ever UEFA Champions League outing but also played a key role en route to scripting back-to-back league triumphs. Ferencvaros, the familiar outfit in European football, splashed €2m in the summer of 2022 to secure his services for the next three years.
Why Rangers Must Secure His Services
With 32 goals and 16 games in 73 outings (stats via Transfermarket), the Malian is now valued at around €5m by the Hungarian outfit. The Gers have been chasing him for the past few weeks, but a transfer to Ibrox might now get complicated following the interest from Fener coupled with Mourinho’s pulling power.
Rangers are undergoing another transition, this time under Philippe Clement after a dreadful 2023-24 campaign. The Belgian boss has already roped in Óscar Cortés and Hamza Igamane to bolster the attacking third, yet they might need further reinforcements amid rumours of multiple departures.
Despite a successful loan spell with Utrecht, Sam Lammers is expected to part ways after failing to impress in Rangers colours. Scott Wright is drawing interest from Sheffield Wednesday, also the club could listen to offers for Tom Lawrence, Todd Cantwell and Ianis Hagi after stop-start Ibrox spells. Although the Glasgow giants are desperate to have him back after a blistering season-long loan stint, no decision has been made from the Brighton & Hove Albion camp given the arrival of Fabian Hürzeler as Roberto De Zerbi’s successor.
With Cortes, Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland being the only stable wide attacking options, Clement must step up the chase for the experienced Ferencváros ace who has proven his worth over the years.
