"Only if..": Reporter drops Rangers transfer claim that'll concern supporters - opinion

A big Rangers transfer claim has emerged regarding Gio van Bronckhorst’s pursuit of a new attacker heading into the summer transfer window… 

Reporter Alan Nixon has suggested that the Light Blues will only pursue a deal for Oladapo Afolayan if Ryan Kent leaves the club in the coming months.

The journalist has cast doubt over whether or not the Bolton forward would be interested in joining the Gers as a back-up to the current Ibrox gem.

In response to a fan asking about a deal for the Trotters winger, Nixon tweeted: “Only if Kent goes I suspect … if there was spare cash you could do him as cover … if he fancied that.”

This claim from Nixon will surely leave Rangers supporters concerned for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the suggestion that they may not want to sign him if they keep Kent is a worrying one. The club is in dire need of additional reinforcements on the left flank in addition to retaining the ex-Liverpool man, as Joe Aribo was the only other Gers midfielder with more than three assists in the Premiership.

Scott Wright, Amad Diallo, Fashion Sakala, Aaron Ramsey, Scott Arfield and Ianis Hagi managed just two assists between them in the league in 2021/22. This shows that Van Bronckhorst did not have much in the way of creativity outside of Kent and Aribo, in terms of his midfielders.

Therefore, Rangers need to strengthen in this area even if they can keep hold of the ex-Liverpool winger, and this is why fans will be concerned that Afolayan may only be a replacement for the 25-year-old.

The supporters will also be gutted by the suggestion that the English League One attacker may not be willing to come to Ibrox as a squad option. This would result in the club missing out on an excellent addition to the depth of their