Rangers have just agreed excellent ‘short-term’ deal – ‘I’ve heard good stories about him’
Rangers may explore the Scandinavian market further in the January transfer window thanks to a new hire at the club.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after it was revealed that Stig Inge Bjornebye will join Rangers as a football consultant and advisor for an initial six-month period.
Rangers have sacked chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, meaning manager Danny Rohl is taking greater responsibility over January signings.
Rohl will be looking to bolster his Rangers squad in January, following an unsuccessful summer transfer window under previous boss Russell Martin.
Stig Inge Bjornebye ‘well-connected’ in Scandinavia
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes purchasing players from Scandinavia could be a smart move for Rangers.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Bjornebye joining the club will help Rohl.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, it is on the short-term consultancy basis, I understand it, and it will be to mainly help with January. And exactly what I just said, perhaps looking at international markets, i.e. Scandinavia.
“He’s, I think, worked with Rosenberg and Aarhus. So I think that we might be seeing a couple of Scandinavians coming into Rangers, and I think that would be a good market for Rangers to shop in, and get the right price. I think it’s not an overpriced market. It’s better than Rangers shopping in England, for instance, or even Spain.
“I think they’re better suited to coming in. There’s a long history of Scandinavians coming into Scottish football, and I think it’s a market that’s been overlooked. And I think when you see things like Chermiti, who has not settled at all at Rangers, given the quality of player you can get from Scandinavia, as opposed to how Chermiti’s ended up playing, I think that the Rangers fans will understand that move.
“And I think Danny Rohl will also do well with the Scandinavian type, Germanic type players. And I think that will help build the squad. So I expect that to be the reason why he’s been brought in. It’s a market they’re going to start shopping in. I think I’ll see some good things coming in from him because I’ve heard some good stories, and he seems to be well-connected in this area. So it will give Danny Rohl some clear direction in the Scandinavian market.”
Rangers pursuing new midfielder amid Nico Raskin uncertainty
Rangers’ first signing of the January window could be Saint-Etienne’s Pierre Ekwah, who was previously with Sunderland.
Ekwah was linked with a move to Rangers in the summer, as the 23-year-old has refused to play for Saint-Etienne since their relegation to Ligue 2.
The midfielder could be a replacement for Nico Raskin, who could depart Ibrox, with the 24-year-old potentially moving to the Premier League.