Martin Skrtel
As per reports, Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers FC have submitted a £4million bid to sign defender Martin Skrtel from Fenerbahce.
The Gers, having finished 3rd in the Scottish Premiership in the recently concluded 2017/18 season, have brought in Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as the new manager for the upcoming campaign.
The former England international signed Canadian winger Scott Arfield on a free transfer from Burnley as his first business at the club before signing 36-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor as well. However, Gerrard is understood to be keen on strengthening his backline.
Rangers have had a dismal defensive record in the Scottish top-flight, conceding as many as 50 goals in the season, which is the most by a club in the top-six and double the number that was conceded by Rangers’ bitter rivals and champions Celtic.
The Light Blues brought in the likes of Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso last summer but the Portuguese duo hasn’t been able to establish themselves at the Ibrox.
Youngster Ross McCrorie has done well but has lacked the element of consistency while fellow young defender David Bates is set to leave the club in the summer.
The Gers brought in veteran Scottish defender Russell Martin on loan from Norwich City in the January window to steady the ship but he has been extremely ineffective too, which has jeopardised his chances of earning a permanent move to the Ibrox.
As a result, signing a new centre-half is of paramount importance for Gerrard and Rangers if they are to mount a serious title challenge next time out. Skrtel would go a long way in helping them solidify things at the back.
The 33-year-old Slovakian international is a vastly experienced customer with close to 500 senior appearances for Zenit St. Petersburg, Liverpool and Fenerbahce combined.
Skrtel spent over eight years with Liverpool in the English Premier League and was a mainstay for the Reds for a long period during that spell.
Since moving to Turkey in the summer of 2016, Skrtel has accumulated 79 appearances for Fener, scoring 6 goals and registering 3 assists in the process.
The 97-time capped Slovakian international has taken the field 30 times this season and has played a key role as Fenerbahce sit 2nd in the Turkish Lig, with the possibility of winning the title on the last matchday.
A strong and aggressive defender, Skrtel has proven himself at the top level for years now and despite being on the wrong side of 30, he has plenty left to offer. Good in the air, a strong tackler, the former Liverpool man is also a sharp passer of the ball from the back.
His discipline, or the lack thereof, is somewhat a concern but the amount of experience and know-how that he would bring definitely outweighs that flaw. Moreover, Gerrard knows what Skrtel will be able to offer the club, having been his teammate and captain for almost his entire spell at Liverpool.
The £4million fee might feel a little steep but Rangers will be getting their hands on a seasoned centre-half who has a wealth of experience at both club and international level to help the Gers end Celtic’s dominance in the domestic circuit.
