Rangers handed £7m boost as funds emerge for Jens Hjerto-Dahl pursuit

Club Brugge are preparing a £7m move for Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama once Arsenal complete the signing of Christos Tzolis, with the transfer potentially paving the way for the Light Blues to land long-term target Jens Hjerto-Dahl.

The Belgian champions are expected to step up their pursuit of Gassama after Tzolis' reported £34m move to the Emirates Stadium is finalised, creating a vacancy in their attacking options.

While Derek McInnes's side have received no formal offer at this stage, the situation is one to watch closely as the transfer window gathers pace.

Gassama featured against the Belgian side for the Gers under Russell Martin in last season’s UEFA Champions’ League qualifiers, as the Scottish side went down 9-1 on aggregate.

Gassama departure to free up Hjerto-Dahl funds

Should Gassama depart Ibrox, the fee would comfortably cover the expected cost of bringing Hjerto-Dahl to Glasgow.

The Tromso midfielder has already made it clear that Rangers are his preferred destination despite interest from Cardiff City.

Rumours suggesting the Norwegian was travelling to Glasgow are understood to be premature, with no flight booked, but negotiations remain active and a deal is very much alive.

McInnes has made no secret of his desire to add leadership and athleticism to his midfield, with Hjerto-Dahl viewed as a player capable of making an immediate impact while also offering long-term value.

Rangers continue midfield overhaul

He would join Dan Neil and Cammy Devlin as confirmed midfield acquisitions with Vanja Dragojevic also set to conclude a move to Ibrox from Partizan Belgrade this week.

Ross McCrorie, Lawrence Shankland and Ben Godfrey have also joined McInnes at Ibrox this summer.

Gassama compared to Lionel Messi

Losing Gassama would undoubtedly be a blow given the impression he has made since arriving at Rangers.

The Mauritania international is regarded as one of the club's most naturally gifted attackers, despite inconsistent form in his debut season,

His national team manager Aritz Lopez made a remarkable comparison when discussing the winger's ability.

"If Mauritania had a player like Messi, Gassama would be among the closest comparisons," López said, highlighting the winger's rare technical qualities.

The coach also pointed to Gassama's formative years in the academies of Brest and Paris Saint-Germain as evidence of the elite-level development that shaped his game.

Previous interest in Gassama

Interest in Gassama is nothing new.

During the January transfer window, Monaco tested Rangers' resolve with a loan offer containing an obligation to buy worth around £10million.

Then-head coach Danny Rohl was determined to keep one of his key attacking players and blocked the move despite significant interest from Ligue 1.

Rohl also dismissed speculation linking Gassama with Villarreal, insisting there was no intention of allowing the winger to leave.

"He's a player at our club and there's nothing more to say," the German said at the time.

Club Brugge's expected interest could now provide Rangers with a significant decision.

While losing one of the squad's standout attacking talents would leave a void, a £7million fee would hand McInnes further resources to reshape his squad, with Hjerto-Dahl remaining one of the club's priority midfield targets as preparations continue for the new Premiership season.

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