Rangers striker plans are being shaped as much by timing and other clubs business as by their own intent, with deadline day developments pointing toward a summer-focused solution rather than an immediate fix.
One route now appears to be closing. According to Alex Crook, a move for Cameron Archer to Rangers is now “highly unlikely.”
Southampton had been attempting to line up a second forward alongside Cyle Larin in order to free Archer to leave, but that process has stalled.
Without a replacement arriving at St Mary’s, the English Championship club are reluctant to weaken their attacking depth, leaving Rangers hopes of securing Archer on deadline day hanging by a thread.
That development shifts greater attention onto a deal that looks more advanced in structural terms but delayed in impact.
Reports from The Rangers Review’s Chris Jack indicate Rangers have reached a verbal agreement with German 3. Liga side Hansa Rostock for striker Ryan Naderi, with the player expected to arrive in the summer.
That aligns with the German club’s long-standing stance: they are open to a sale, but not at the expense of their promotion push unless a replacement is secured first.
For Rangers, it suggests a compromise, securing a target they value, but not solving the immediate need for a No.9 in the closing hours of this window.
Elsewhere, a wide attacker previously admired at Ibrox is attracting concrete interest from Belgium.
Transfer specialist Sacha Tavolieri reports that RSC Anderlecht have been in contact with Motherwell over Tawanda Maswanhise, with the Scottish side asking for around €3 million.
Rangers have monitored Maswanhise for much of the window but had not moved into an advanced negotiation phase, and Anderlecht’s late push could take the decision out of their hands.
Taken together, these strands underline a familiar deadline-day theme: Rangers recruitment team are active and aligned on targets, but the final outcome is heavily dependent on domino effects elsewhere.
Archer’s situation hinges on Southampton’s business, Naderi’s on Rostock’s squad balance, and Maswanhise’s on competing interest from the continent.
The risk is clear for the Ibrox club, entering the run-in without the additional forward depth many feel is required.
The upside, from the club’s perspective, is avoiding a late, inflated deal that does not fit long-term planning. Whether that balance proves prudent or costly will only become clear once the window shuts and attention returns fully to results on the pitch.
Danny Rohl, previously buoyant about Rangers potential business in the closing stages of the window said he was unsure if his side would be active on deadline day when he spoke to the media following the Gers 0-0 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road yesterday.