Rangers are off to flying start in the league as well as Europe and the new signings seem to have adapted well to Steven Gerrard’s system in these early weeks. The gaffer has roped in an array of names since being appointed as the Gers’ chief, and the club have backed him through and through in their quest to reclaim the Scottish crown knocking Celtic off their perch.
They have tied down Andy King recently on loan from Leicester City and identified Leonel Di Plácido as the potential successor of skipper James Tavernier if he leaves Ibrox in the forthcoming future, according to talkSPORT.
The right fullback, meanwhile, has played down the talks while speaking to the Argentine media (as claimed by the Scottish Sun). The 25-year-old defender ‘knows nothing’ about the Rangers rumours but is valued at around £1m which is quite affordable considering the current inflation of the transfer market.
Di Placido currently playing for Lanus back in his homeland and is on the radar of many European outfits including Crystal Palace in England, Leganes and Espanyol in Spain as well as the French side Amiens. The uncapped Argentine must be keen on a move to Europe to earn the attention of Lionel Scaloni – the Albiceleste boss who is in the hunt for new faces to accelerate the transition.
Do They Need Di Placido This Summer
Although he is not a familiar face in the European football circuit, Gerrard should keep close tabs on Di Placido due to his growing popularity among clubs across the top leagues. However, Tavernier is expected to be retained beyond this window as his influence from the right flank is essential to meet their season objectives.
The signing of the former All Boys star would be a luxury unless the Englishman heads south in winter. The Gers might even hand the Argentine a pre-contract in January due to his availability on a Bosman next year.
What He Would Bring At Rangers
Rangers, right now, have the likes of Jon Flanagan and Matt Polster to cover Tavernier down the right-hand side of the backline. Yet neither of them holds the attributes and impact of the skipper and the arrival of Di Placido as his alternative might serve the purpose to some extent due to his technical traits, attacking flair and smart movements using the width of the pitch.
