Rangers

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Rangers' brisk business in the January transfer window is encouraging.

The club formally announced new loan signing Andreas Skov Olsen before the Scottish Cup tie on Friday night and hopefully the former £12m man will add quality to the attacking areas and hit the ground running with goals and assists.

If he has a similar impact to our previous Wolfsburg loanee - Vaclav Cerny - we'll have won a watch.

Rangers have now brought in three players this month but I'm hopeful we can still add another couple. Ideally, a number nine and a centre-back.

If we can get those two deals sorted, I'd be very happy with how the window panned out for us.

On the pitch, it's now six wins on the bounce after beating Annan 5-0 in a stress-free weekend to safely progress to a Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at home to Queen's Park or Stranraer.

By Sunday at 5pm, I'm hoping it will be eight wins on the spin as we play Ludogorets in the Europa League on Thursday followed by Dundee at Ibrox in the league.

Even though we will not qualify for the Europa League knockout stage, it's important we register a victory to keep the momentum going.

Image source, SNS

Rangers are keen on Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise and have initiated preliminary discussions by sounding out the 24-year-old Zimbabwe international's agent. (TeamTalk), external

Manager Branislav Fodrek admits Dunaksta Streda will be powerless to stop Rangers transfer target Damir Redzic, 22, from leaving the club for the right fee, while RB Salszburg and FC Copenhagen are also keen on the Hungary winger. (Sport.SK via Daily Record, external)

Former Rangers academy player Cameron Scott has joined the under-21 squad at Burnley. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Rangers are to make upgrades to Ibrox Stadium in partnership with supporters' group Club 1872. (Sun), external

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Danny Rohl has re-energised Ibrox by instilling a winning mentality while "carrying himself like a Rangers manager should", says former midfielder Charlie Adam.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss took over the Govan club during a period of turmoil following Russell Martin's calamitous tenure.

With 11 wins in 14 league games, the German coach has dragged the Ibrox side back into contention for the Scottish Premiership title.

Former Rangers player Adam says Rohl has not won matches by playing the best football, but by adjusting and understanding the predicament the club were in when he arrived.

"Danny's done a brilliant job," said Adam. "He's understood where Rangers are [and] he's carried himself like a Rangers manager should.

"I think you have to be a certain type to be the Rangers manager - how you carry yourself, how you speak to the media. I think he's done that really well.

"Has he played the best football? Probably not, but he's got results. That's key and that's the important bit. He's done that quickly.

"Now there's a lot of good feeling around the club and the supporters and the owners are trying to do the right things."

With leaders Hearts welcoming Celtic to Tynecastle on Saturday, Rangers could be presented with the chance to further close the gap at the summit when they host Dundee.

Adam, who was a Rangers player between 2003 and 2009, added: "Inside the club and inside that dressing room, they'll know that there's an opportunity to really kick on for the end of the season.

"A couple of signings from now to the end of the January window will help them, and as long as you come out of the window better than you started, it will give you an opportunity for the last part of the season."

Damir Redzic says Dunajska Streda have told him several clubs are interested in him and it is believed RB Salzburg are leading the race to sign the 22-year-old Hungary forward who is also being monitored by Rangers and Copenhagen. (Nemzetisport), external

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has no plans to sell Oliver Antman in the January transfer window despite suggestions the 24-year-old winger could be forced out at Ibrox just six months after arriving from Go Ahead Eagles. (Football Insider), external

Rangers made an enquiry to Sheffield Wednesday about Max Lowe's availability early this month, but a deal for the 28-year-old defender is unlikely as things stand. (The Star), external

Asked about interest from Hibernian in 20-year-old striker Bailey Cadamarteri and Rangers for defender Max Lowe, Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said he has only been told of one offer for one of his players. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Former Rangers youth forward Robbie Ure has caught the attention of RB Salzburg and Polissya Zhytomyr, with the Ukrainian club having already launched a bid for the 21-year-old, after an impressive debut season with Swedish club Sirius. (The Scotsman), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Rangers' surprised Ibrox before Friday's Scottish Cup tie against Annan by bringing Andreas Skov Olsen onto the pitch and announcing the loan signing of the Denmark international.

We asked for your thoughts on both that arrival and the match itself, which Rangers won 5-0.

Here's what you had to say:

ON THE GAME

Graeme: Some positives with Bojan Miovski getting his first career hat-trick, Thelo Aasgaard scoring a world class free-kick and Kieran Dowell playing some decent stuff. But, considering the opponents, certain players have proved they simply are not good enough for this club. Be it lack of ability, fight or passion to wear the shirt, some have finally proved to me they need to be shown the door. Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga and Danilo are three examples that needed to show something/anything against lower-level opposition to convince the fans but continued with their poor performances. Dead weight needs to be shifted now.

Andrew: Rangers rotated, Rangers dominated. They got everything they could have wanted from the game - Miovski building confidence with his first senior hat-trick, Aasgaard with a world class free-kick, great contributions from youngsters Zebedee Lawson, Findlay Curtis and Clinton Nsiala, and a last chance to snuff out who is maybe not good enough to wear the shirt. Three new signings announced to top it all off, one of which being Skov Olsen. Literally the perfect result for the Bears last night.

Peter: Big surprise about how many were dropped. Some, for obvious reasons, didn't really want to be there. Keeping the winning mentality going is good, Miovski getting hat-trick boosts his mindset. I've been admiring Rohl and his style of play but I think he needs to give Curtis a bit more game time like Connor Barron. Young, keen, bags of energy and can develop into something special.

ON SKOV OLSEN

Graham: Rangers still trying to buy success through foreign signings when they have missed out on the likes of Lawrence Shankland and Lewis Ferguson, plus lots of other Scots over the years. Good luck but the same outcome beckons.

Jim: I believe Rangers have had a really good transfer window, however I would like to see them sign an experienced central defender and a striker who can score goals and take one in three chances.

Paul: I think this move just might be what Skov Olsen needed and hopefully at the end of his loan spell, he will see what a big club this is.

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Tochi Chukwuani made his Rangers debut as a substitute in Friday's 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Annan Athletic and says he can do was asked what his favoured role in midfield was.

"I don't think I have a so-called best position, I just call myself a midfielder," Chukwuani told BBC Scotland. "I can do everything in the midfield.

"It was nice to feel the stadium, the atmosphere and being with all the boys. Getting my first minutes was amazing.

"Huge achievement for me, personally, because Rangers is a historic club and the shirt is heavy to wear and you feel it once you step on the pitch. I'm just honoured to wear the badge."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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New Rangers winger Andreas Skov Olsen says fans can expect him to "go for it" and hopes to end the season lifting trophies.

The Denmark international has signed on loan from Wolfsburg until the end of the campaign, with Rangers holding the option to make the move permanent in the summer.

Skov Olsen, 26, has made only 10 appearances for the Bundesliga side since his summer move from Club Brugge.

He excelled in Belgium, scoring 49 goals and providing 30 assists in 124 games and Skov Olsen told BBC Sport Scotland he hopes to show fans he can recapture that form at Ibrox.

"Hopefully I can bring extra strength to the front, to both score and create for the team," he said.

"I think they can expect I will try to break through, [going] inside and outside. Shoot and set up my mates. Just go, even [if I] lose the ball - go again.

"That's what they can expect - I will try and go for it.

"It's a very interesting time. But we have to take one game at a time and win the next one in front of us. Hopefully at the end of the season we'll lift trophies."

Skov Olsen played at Nordsjaelland in Denmark and with Bologna in Serie A before his move to Club Brugge.

He added he spoke to various people about the club, including some current Rangers players who he played with in his homeland.

"I know some of the guys from Nordsjaelland back in the day. [Oliver] Antman, the new signing Tochi [Chukwuani], and Dio [Mohamed Diomande].

"I know the guys a bit so it was very lovely to see them after some years.

"I spoke through a friend with Antman who came in the summer, obviously Tochi has just arrived, other than that I spoke to some other people about the club who only had good things to say."

Le Harve have won the race to sign reported Rangers target Lucas Gourna-Douath from Red Bull Salzburg. (L'Equipe via Daily Record, external)

Borussia Monchengladbach have joined the host of clubs chasing Sunderland's Dan Neil, with Rangers said to be interested in the midfielder. (Sky Germany via Daily Record, external)

Bojan Miovski scored a hat-trick as a fringe Rangers side breezed past Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.

Match report

Have your say

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "Yeah, 5-0 is a good result. The first couple of minutes, we needed a little bit of time. We rotated the players, they were not so connected but through the game we would be better and better.

"It was an opportunity to get some players minutes. It was good to see today a debut from the academy player [Zebedee Lawson]. Tochi [Chukwuani] got some first minutes. This is good to see. Bojan [Miovski] scored three times. This is fantastic. At the end, Thelo [Aasgaard] makes the fantastic fee-kick. It was a good finish in this game."

Image source, Getty

Andreas Skov Olsen "wasn't in doubt for a second" about joining Rangers and wants to crown his loan spell with silverware.

The 26-year-old Denmark winger - who moved to Wolfsburg for a reported £12m a year ago - has switched to Ibrox in a loan deal that could become permanent in the summer.

"I'm very excited," Olsen told the Rangers website. "I'm very happy that it's done and I'm so excited to meet all the players, fans and the rest of the club.

"Rangers are the biggest club in Scotland with a huge history. It has huge traditions and is a very old club.

"When I finally heard that I had the opportunity to come here, I wasn't in doubt for a second. I want to come here to try help win trophies with the rest of the team, do my best, and have a great time here."

Olsen has 40 Denmark caps and over 200 appearances in a club career spanning Nordsjaelland, Bologna, Club Brugge and Wolfsburg.

Head Coach Danny Rohl says Olsen has will provide "real quality in the final third" for Rangers.

"We are really excited to bring Andreas to the club," Rohl added.

"He is a player who has proven himself at the top level and brings experience of performing under pressure both domestically and on the European stage.

"He arrives hungry for this challenge and excited by the opportunity ahead of him."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

With a loan deal for Andreas Skov Olsen over the line, Rangers have now made their third signing of the January window.

But what are they getting in the Denmark winger?

While Olsen, 26, has struggled at Wolfsburg, it was his electric form for Club Brugge that earned him a £12m move to the Bundesliga.

Olsen made 124 appearances for the Belgian club and scored 49 goals, setting up a further 30 in his almost three-year spell.

During his final six months in the Belgian Pro League, Olsen was in the top 10% for shots, assists, non-penalty goals and progressive carries per 90 minutes.

He has shown his abilities at the highest level in the Champions League.

Olsen played all six Brugge games in the Champions League last season and started five, including the 1-1 draw at Celtic. He registered four shots in that match, more than any other player.

Across his six Champions League appearances Olsen created six chances, had seven shots (four on target) and two big chances while generating an xG of 1.13.

Internationally, the 26-year-old has 40 caps for Denmark after making his debut in 2020 and has scored eight goals. He missed out on their latter World Cup qualifying games (including the 4-2 defeat to Scotland) but started the 3-0 win in Greece earlier in the campaign.

If Olsen can rediscover his Brugge form at Ibrox then Rangers certainly have an exciting player on their books.

Image source, Getty

Rangers have completed the marquee signing of Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen on loan from Wolfsburg.

The 26-year-old - unveiled to the Ibrox crowd before tonight's Scottish Cup tie against Annan - joins for the remainder of the season, with Rangers holding the option to buy.

What do you make of Olsen's signing? Can he be the difference maker in Rangers' title bid?

Share your views here

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Is the visit of League Two strugglers Annan Athletic tonight a potential Scottish Cup banana skin for Rangers?

The Ibrox side, then under Philippe Clement, fell victim to an almighty shock in last season's competition when they were stunned at home by Queen's Park.

Current manager Danny Rohl, who is set to rotate his team for the fourth-round tie, and goalkeeper Liam Kelly have both insisted Rangers will gave Annan every respect.

But even if they field a largely second-string team, former Premiership striker Cillian Sheridan is expecting an easy ride for Rangers.

"It's completely different when Rangers are playing at home," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"You're expected to win by a big margin. When you're playing a team like that away it's trickier.

"I think the game tonight will be about how many Rangers can score. If they're not winning 4-0 or 5-0 it's not a great result. I don't really see this being a potential banana skin."

With Europa League and Premiership games coming thick and fast, Rohl will freshen up his team and new signing Tochi Chukwuani could make his debut, although fellow arrival Tuur Rommens isn't yet match ready.

Scottish football writer Moira Gordon has stressed the need to be careful.

"You don't want to get too clever and move things around too much because you want to make sure the job is done and dusted," she said.

"I think he'll probably give the new signings a runout at some stage but you don't want to mess around with your team too much in a cup game."

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Rangers captain James Tavernier has emerged as a target for former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez, now in charge of Panathinaikos, with the 34-year-old right-back out of contract this summer. (Daily Mail), external

Aberdeen have enquired about taking on loan Rangers midfielder Lyall Cameron, who chose Ibrox instead of Pittodrie when leaving Dundee in the summer, but it is not yet clear whether an option-to-buy agreement is possible for the 23-year-old. (Press & Journal), external

Rangers are looking for Lyall Cameron to get more regular game time after entering talks with Aberdeen over a loan deal for the midfielder. (Sky Sports), external

Hacken will demand about £6.65m for 21-year-old Silas Andersen, with Celtic among up to five clubs preparing bids for the Denmark Under-21 midfielder, but Rangers are no longer among them. (Fotbolldirekt), external

Allsvenskan have rejected a £1.3m offer from Polissya Zhytomyr for former Rangers forward Robbie Ure and the Ukrainian club are expected to improve their offer to £2.2m, with the 21-year-old Scotland youth considering a switch to the Ukrainian national side ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in March. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Liam Kelly doesn't need reminding of what happened the last time he played in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox.

He was in goal when Rangers were knocked out 1-0 at home by Queen's Park in the last 16 last season, one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history.

Kelly, 29, is in line to stand in for Jack Butland against Annan in the fourth-round tie on Friday night and is determined to avoid another cup calamity.

"We're desperate to win," said Kelly.

"We got the major shock and upset last year, so we've got the biggest reminder possible that we can't mess up.

"On that day, everything that could have possibly went wrong went wrong."

Queen's Park only had one shot on target and it went in as winger Seb Drozd scored past Kelly. Rangers had 28 efforts but couldn't find a way past Callum Ferrie in the Spiders goal.

"Ultimately, that result should never have happened," added Kelly.

"Hopefully it'll never happen again. I think we're in a far better way to go into this game than we were maybe that time last year.

"It was an awful thing that happened at the time, but in a way it's something to remind us that if we come off the boil then we're going to get punished."

The Queen's Park defeat wasn't the death knell of Phillipe Clement's managerial career at Ibrox, but the Belgian was sacked a fortnight later after a 2-0 defeat in the Premiership by St Mirren.

Defeat to league two Annan would be even more ignominious and unlikely.

The Dumfriesshire club lost 8-2 to St Mirren in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup and sit fourth from bottom of League Two.

Rangers are on a roll under Danny Rohl, with just one domestic defeat since he took over. The outcome for Kelly though is far from a foregone conclusion and he says Rohl thinks the same way.

"I don't think he'll be allowing us to take our foot off the gas at all," said Kelly.

"They are an opposition we're treating the exact same way, the way we treated Celtic. My wee brother's in League Two [with Dumbarton] so I watch a lot of Scottish football and Annan have some good players."

Scotland cap Kelly's contract is up at the end of the season, but the Rangers academy graduate is keen to extend his stay.

"I've been here for the majority of my life, 16 years out of 29," he said.

"I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be keen to stay on. I love being here, I love being a part of the club."

We asked for your views after Rangers signed Belgian left-back Tuur Rommens on Westerlo on a three-and-a-half year deal.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: Great signing! Sourcing players who are performing for their clubs, as well as internationally, with room to grow, has to be the model Rangers adopt. There have been no panic buys in this window - every signing has been calculated and fits a clear recruitment model. It would have been so easy to splash the cash and panic buy after such a poor summer window but Rangers are doing the opposite. Well done Andrew Cavenagh.

Chris: Good to get a left-back. Can we get rid of Max Aarons now please. A reliable goalscorer must be top priority though.

Rab: Things are shaping up nicely. I, for one, trust Danny Rohl to bring in better quality than his predecessor. Hopefully some of the flops can be moved on during this window as well.

Stewart: We have to trust the gaffer with these ones. Everyone looks brilliant on YouTube. The gaffer has done an awesome job so far with the sinking ship he inherited. Fingers crossed he's as good at recruitment as he is at tactics.

John: This is a good window for us. Get some new blood in, Annan on Friday which we should win, the Europa, Dundee and Europa. Thus gives us two Europa games to try out the new signings and new formations with no risk to the league. Europa is gone to be honest. Really pleased how the team has moved forward since Rohl was appointed. Just win, best ethos.

James: I am excited about the new signings, but a bit worried that we have just signed a player who is out for up to four weeks. We have had so many injury-prone players in the past, I am hoping this is not another. A prolific striker next and we can turn up at Ibrox with real hope.

Graeme: Signing another player with injury issues. I'm done judging players until they get a few games under their belts. Let's see what happens.