Rangers Opinion: Gers should try and beat off competition for Josip Vukovic
According to the Daily Record, Rangers are interested in signing Croatian midfielder Josip Vukovic, who currently plies his trade in the Portuguese top-flight with Maritimo.
The same report claims that the 27-year-old has also caught the eyes of Serie A clubs Lazio and Sassuolo, while Portuguese outlet Fichajes claimed last month that Primeira Liga giants Sporting Lisbon and Benfica were also monitoring the player. Towards the end of February, The Sun reported that Chelsea were also amongst the clubs weighing up a move for Vukovic,
Josip Vukovic is certainly not a household name in European football but he has come into the limelight since his move to Maritimo from Ukrainian outfit Olimpik Donetsk last summer.
The 27-year-old former Croatian youth international has established himself as a lynchpin for 12th-placed Primeira Liga side Maritimo but it looks more and more likely that he will move on after just a single season at the club, with interest in the defensive midfielder intensifying ahead of the summer transfer window.
Vukovic has been a ever-present for Maritimo in the ongoing campaign, making a total of 27 appearances in all competitions, although he is yet to score his first goal for the club.
Essentially a defensive midfielder by trade, Vukovic is not a world-beater by any means but he can be a useful asset to any team with his calmness and composure in possession and impressive range of passing. He knows how to dictate the play in the midfield and often succeeds in setting his team on the front foot with delightful long passes and cross-fields.
Known for his good game-reading ability and work-rate, the Croatian responds really well to the transitions in play, covers a lot of ground and breaks up the play with crucial tackles and interceptions.
To put things into perspective, Rangers are currently well-stocked in the central midfield department, but given that Josip Vukovic has carved out a big reputation for himself this season, the Gers should consider making a move for him.
Lassana Coulibaly has slipped down the pecking order at Ibrox and it is quite clear that he is going to return to Ligue 1 side Angers upon the expiry of his loan deal.
Gerrard, however, has already taken measures to improve his midfield for the upcoming season by striking permanent deals for Glen Kamara and Southampton loanee Steven Davis, both of whom have played a key role the club over the last couple of months.
Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones and Motherwell’s Jake Hastie are also set to arrive at Ibrox next season after Gerrard managed to secure their services on pre-contract deals.
Rangers have someone like Ross McCrorie, who can play at the back and also in a holding midfield role, while Ryan Jack has also been an influential figure for the Gers in the middle of the park.
Scott Arfield is an important member of the side under Gerrard but Rangers should consider cashing in on 32-year-old Graham Dorrans, who is out of contract in 2020 and has spent the entire season on the sidelines.
Also, Steven Davis is already 34 and he might find it difficult to deliver the goods week-in-week-out throughout the entire length of the campaign. Josip Vukovic is good enough to add depth to the ranks at Ibrox and increase competition for places, so there is no reason why Rangers should not consider him as a viable option.
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Given that Vukovic is not likely to cost a fortune, the Gers should try and beat off competition from the other clubs for the Croatian midfielder.
They have fallen well short of Celtic in the title race once again this season and bringing in quality players in the summer should help them mount a better challenge next term.
