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Rangers have had an initial approach for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi turned down.
Russell Martin wants the 22-year-old to become his eighth signing of this transfer window, with the Ibrox club proposing a year’s loan with an option to buy.
Palace, who rate the former England under 21 player in the £10million bracket, have rejected the opening offer.
Manager Oliver Glasner is believed to be undecided as to whether he’s willing to sanction losing the wide man.
Rangers, however, are unlikely to give up their pursuit of the Londoner, who Martin feels can add a creative influence on the right flank.
Former Chelsea youth Rak-Sakyi joined Palace six years ago and has played ten games for the first team.
Crystal Palace rate Rangers target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in the £10million bracket
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has a shot at goal during a pre-season friendly against Millwall
Russell Martin believes the player would be a creative influence on the right flank for Rangers
Farmed out to Charlton two years ago, he was loaned to Sheffield United last season and played 34 games in the Championship, scoring seven times.
That productive spell caught the eye of Rangers’ scouts, who are continuing a summer rebuild following the American takeover at Ibrox.
Speaking after his team’s 2-0 win over Panathinaikos in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Tuesday, Martin talked about the need for more new recruits before the transfer window closes.
Rangers would like Rak-Sakyi to be one of those signings but, even if a deal is struck soon, he would not be eligible able to play in next week’s second leg in Athens.
So far this summer, Rangers have signed Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Nasser Djiga, Lyall Cameron, Djeidi Gassama, Emmanuel Fernandez and Thelo Aasgaard.
Meanwhile, Ian Durrant hopes that Martin is able to hang on to Nico Raskin beyond the close of the window.
Signed from Standard Liege in 2023, the 24-year-old has improved markedly over the past six months and might well attract a big money bid.
Durrant understands that Rangers can’t turn down bumper offers, but feels selling the player at this time would break up a promising partnership.
‘Russell will outline that,’ said the former midfielder. ‘He wants his best players here, but sometimes money talks.
‘I hope it doesn’t, but that’s the nature of the beast.
‘He’ll want to keep him, because he’s wanting to get Raskin and Joe Rothwell together. The more they play, the better they’ll get.’
