Rangers' hopes of bringing Vaclav Cerny back to Ibrox are now looking increasingly unlikely due to the financial implications of a potential deal.
The Czech winger remains under contract with Besiktas, and his current wage package is proving a significant obstacle, with Rangers facing a major gap between what they are prepared to pay and the terms Cerny currently enjoys in Turkey.
Cerny is reportedly earning a base salary of around €60,000 per week at Besiktas, with the potential to earn a further €15,000 per week through performance-related bonuses.
That means the 29-year-old can earn up to €75,000 per week before any additional considerations relating to his Turkish tax position.
For Rangers to bring Cerny back to Glasgow on comparable terms, they would potentially have to make him their highest-paid player by a significant margin.
Youssef Chermiti is currently Rangers' highest earner on a reported €36,000-a-week basic salary.
Matching Cerny's reported base wage would therefore require Rangers to offer a package around a third higher than Chermiti's current basic terms, before taking performance bonuses into account.
That financial commitment is understood to be a major reason why a return to Ibrox is now unlikely.
Cerny scores against former Rangers teammate
Cerny was in action for Besiktas on Monday night, scoring against FK Corum.
The match also provided a reunion with former Rangers teammate Mohamed Diomande, who now plays for Corum, who also scored.
Cerny spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Rangers from Wolfsburg and became a popular figure at Ibrox during his spell in Glasgow.
He scored 18 goals and registered nine assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, helping Rangers win the Premier Sports Cup.
Rangers had been interested in bringing the Czech international back to the club on a permanent basis, but negotiations with Besiktas have failed to progress towards an agreement.
Turkish tax position adds another complication
Cerny's situation is further complicated by his tax status in Turkey. The winger's current financial arrangements mean that Rangers would not simply be competing with his gross salary but would also need to consider the difference in taxation between Turkey and Scotland.
That makes matching his current net earnings particularly difficult without significantly increasing the overall cost of the deal.
Rangers are therefore facing two separate obstacles: Besiktas' valuation and the salary package required to convince Cerny to return to Scotland.
With the transfer deadline approaching, the current expectation is that Cerny will remain in Turkey.
Unless there is a late change in either Besiktas' demands or Cerny's wage expectations, a reunion between Cerny and Rangers is now looking increasingly unlikely.
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