Rangers interest in Tochi Chukwuani this January carries an intriguing backstory – because the Danish midfielder was already on the radar of another British club last summer, when Robbie Thelwell was head of recruitment at Norwich City.
During the summer of 2024, Chukwuani was identified as a potential midfield target for the Canaries, who are now managed by ex-Gers boss Phillipe Clement, as they looked to reshape their squad.
At the time, the midfielder was coming off a strong season in Denmark with Lyngby, impressing with his positional intelligence, athleticism and ability to protect the defence – qualities Norwich were keen to add.
That move never materialised, and Chukwuani moved to his current club, Austrian side Sturm Graz.
Fast forward to January 2026, and he has re-emerged as a serious target for Rangers, with reports suggesting a bid of over €4 million has already been submitted.
The link to the Thelwell name has reignited debate among Rangers supporters – particularly given what has unfolded at Ibrox over the past year.
Kevin Thelwell, Robbie’s father, was sacked by Rangers earlier this season after a disastrous summer window that left the squad unbalanced, bloated in some areas, and thin in others.
Central to that collapse was the appointment of Russell Martin as head coach – a decision that proved costly both on and off the pitch.
Martin’s tenure unravelled quickly, with Rangers enduring poor results, tactical confusion and growing supporter unrest.
By October, he was dismissed, and the club turned to Danny Rohl to stabilise the situation and reset the footballing direction.
Kevin Thelwell’s departure soon followed, alongside CEO Patrick Stewart, marking the end of a recruitment strategy that many fans felt lacked clarity, physicality and long-term planning.
Now, with Thelwell Jr's previous interest in Chukwuani coming back into focus, there is growing curiosity about whether the son’s scouting eye differs from the approach taken by his father at Rangers.
Those who worked with Thelwell at Norwich describe a more data-led, profile-driven recruitment style – prioritising physical robustness, positional intelligence and tactical suitability over stylistic preferences. Chukwuani fits that model perfectly.
The 22-year-old Danish midfielder is not a big-name signing, but he is highly effective. He reads danger early, covers ground aggressively, keeps his positioning disciplined, and plays with maturity beyond his years.
When Sturm Graz defeated Rangers 2–1 in the UEFA Europa League earlier this season, Chukwuani was one of the standout performers, controlling space in front of the defence and disrupting Rangers rhythm.
For Danny Röhl, that profile is exactly what Rangers now need.
With Connor Barron sidelined until at least March with a knee injury, and midfield depth already stretched, adding a specialist number six would provide both short-term stability and long-term competition.
The irony is hard to miss. While Kevin Thelwell’s tenure at Rangers ended in frustration and criticism, his son was already identifying players like Chukwuani as potential solutions elsewhere.
If Rangers complete a deal for the Danish midfielder, it will represent more than just a January signing. It would signal a clear move towards smarter, more sustainable recruitment – the kind that avoids the costly mistakes of the past.
And in the process, it may quietly answer the question many supporters are now asking: Does Robbie Thelwell have better scouting insight than his father?