Rangers and Nottingham Forest in pursuit of 21-year-old enforcer – report
By Danny Wright
Rangers and Nottingham Forest will lock horns in a pursuit of German-based enforcer Emmanuel Mbende, according to a report.
The Mirror claimed in their live transfer blog on Thursday [12:54PM] that the two historic clubs are “keen” on the centre-back, who currently plays for Chemnitzer FC in the third tier of German football.
The 21-year-old is a product of the world-renown academy of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, but spent a season with Championship outfit Birmingham following his release from Signal Iduna Park.
Mbende returned to Germany to play for Chemnitzer last season when he signed a two-year deal after rejecting a new contract at St. Andrew’s.
The former Cameroon Under-20s international, who is eligible to represent Germany, made 17 appearances across all competitions last season for his current employers.
Mark Warburton, who left Rangers in February and is now manager at Forest, has only made one addition to his squad so far by snapping up Jason Cummings from Hibernian.
Pedro Caixinha has had no such worries in padding out his team though, with eight players announced through the door before Thursday’s Europa League clash with Progres Niederkorn.
Football Insider Verdict
Mbende is a relatively unknown player and it could be quite risky trying to sign him up with a view to playing first-team football, which as a 21-year-old, you would expect. Dortmund have a very illustrious academy and only good footballers make the grade there, but sometimes they fail to live up to expectations. Either way a step-up from the third tier of German football to either the Scottish Premiership or English Championship is simply too big of a leap. Both the Light Blues and Forest must add to their central defensive options this summer but Mbende doesn’t seem like someone who will be able to do that with much effect. A signing for the future, maybe. But not one for the present.
In other Rangers news, Kenny Miller has revealed how the new signings have settled in at Ibrox.
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