According to a recent report by Bulgarian news source 7Sport, Premiership giants Rangers are said to hold a ‘great interest’ in acquiring the services of CSKA Sofia holding midfielder Kristiyan Malinov this summer. The report suggests that the Ibrox side are among a host of top European clubs currently after the Bulgarian international’s services and that Belgian outfit Standard Liege have also been in touch with the player’s agents. Various clubs are said to be in preliminary talks with the midfielder as well.
While the report has clarified that Rangers are interested in CSKA Sofia’s Kristiyan Malinov, whether or not they’re able to beat out all the competition to bag his signature is a whole other question altogether. The midfielder is said to be on the radars of teams from Belgium, Netherlands and France, while Romanian giants Universitatea Craiova are also claimed to be keen. The player though has seemingly asked his agent to keep all the transfer talk aside until the end of the season, with the desire to make an informed decision about his future once there is more clarity on the surrounding situation.
What Is Rangers’ Current Situation In The Midfield Area?
On first-look, it could be said that Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side have enough midfielders in their ranks to be able to compete in two competitions at the same time. Upon closer inspection though, the gaping holes within the side begin to become visible.
The most glaring concern that Gerrard is sure to have going into the upcoming campaign is the lack of an alternate holding midfield option to Ryan Jack. The former Aberdeen man has been one of the few undroppable members of this Gers’ squad. Despite the presence of various versatile options, they don’t have a single readymade replacement.
The likes of Scott Arfield, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara are all central midfielders by trade, and their defensive attributes aren’t the greatest. If a situation arises where Jack picks up an unfortunate injury and faces an extended run on the sidelines, Gerrard would be forced to delve into his reserve squad or loan army to try and cover. Ross McCrorie, the man who spent last season on loan at Portsmouth, would provide the gaffer with an alternate option, but depending on such a young player in what could be a very important season, would be like asking for trouble.
What Makes Malinov An Attractive Option For Rangers?
The 26-year-old isn’t the biggest holding midfielder in the world, but he boasts a deceptive amount of upper body strength, which he uses to keep the opposition attackers at arm’s length. A confident and composed carrier of the ball, the Bulgarian international tends to position himself superbly in front of the back-line, while also providing a decent enough threat while going forward as well. The midfielder is part of a rare breed of players who can maintain their finesse even when faced up by more than one defender. A good dribbler too, Malinov has all the right attributes to be a successful defensive-midfielder at the Ibrox.
Rangers Are Interested In CSKA Sofia’s Kristiyan Malinov: Should Gerrard Sign Him?
The Bulgarian is far from being the youngest option available to the Gers, but Gerrard will prefer to have a little bit of experience in the middle of the park. Malinov offers an extremely well-balanced skill-set, in that he can cover for Jack defensively, while also potentially doing a better job than the Scot when going in the opposite direction. Although no asking price has been named by the Bulgarian side, the effects of the Coronavirus are sure to have been felt in that part of the continent as well, meaning that the Gers could be able to snap him up for a relatively low price. If the financials do actually line up, then this is a move that Gerrard needn’t even think twice about making this summer.
