Why Rangers signing Patrik Hrosovsky would be a real coup
Back in September, a report from Czech outlet iSport (h/t The Scottish Sun) had claimed that Rangers were interested completing a loan deal for Genk midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky before the summer deadline. However, a potential move to Ibrox fell through as Genk were not willing to loan out the Slovakian and demanded £3.5million upfront to part ways with their asset.
Rangers eventually roped in Bongani Zungu on a season-long loan as Steven Gerrard turned to other options to bolster his midfield.
Profile
Patrik Hrosovsky started his professional career with Viktoria Plzen back in 2011 and gradually went on to establish himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Czech top-flight. He featured prominently in Plzen’s march to the last-16 of the Europa League in 2017-18 and caught the eye with a string of impressive displays in the group stages of the Champions League in 2018-19.
The 28-year-old racked up 13 goals and 21 assists in 214 appearances for Viktoria Plzen over the course of eight full seasons, winning three domestic titles and also serving as the club captain.
Hrosovsky was snapped up by Genk in 2019 and went on to register 27 appearances in all competitions in his debut season in Belgium, impressing in the club’s Champions League campaign.
Hrosovsky found himself out of favour at the start of the ongoing campaign but has excelled as a regular fixture in the side over the past two months, starting 9 out of Genk’s 14 league fixtures so far. A full international for Slovakia since 2013, the midfielder has earned 31 caps for his nation.
Hrosovsky would add more quality to the Gers’ midfield
Rangers do have the option to turn Bongani Zungu’s loan deal into a permanent transfer but the South African’s long-term future at Ibrox remains unclear for now. Zungu has made only two appearances for the Gers in all competitions so far. He’ll certainly need to make a bigger impact in the coming months if he is to earn himself a permanent move to the club.
Hence, the door remains open for Rangers to monitor other midfield targets ahead of the January window. They are currently pretty well-stocked in that department with Steven Davis, Joe Aribo, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Glen Kamara all competing for places.
But with Davis nearing his twilight at 35 and Arfield not getting any younger at 31, it would make perfect sense for the Gers to line up some alternatives in the market.
Putting things into context, Rangers should reignite interest Patrik Hrosovsky to freshen up their midfield cavalry. The Slovakian boasts a much more lucrative profile as compared to someone like Zungu, having made over 30 appearances in the main rounds of the Champions League and Europa League.
Unlike Zungu, who is predominantly a defensive midfielder, Hrosovsky would offer Gerrard a lot more dynamism with his ability to score goals and make assists for his teammates. The Slovakian also served as the club captain during his spell at Viktoria Plzen, meaning that he has the leadership skills to complement his obvious qualities and experience as a central midfielder.
Read more
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Verdict
Suffice to say, Patrik Hrosovsky ticks all boxes to come through the door at Ibrox as a top-quality addition to Rangers’ midfield. The Gers are posing a real threat to Celtic’s dominance on the Scottish throne this season and the acquisition of Hrosovsky would help their cause. The Slovakian still has several years remaining in his prime and would be a useful signing for the club.
