Rangers 'worried' about Olwethu Makhanya exit - 'his head could be turned'

Rangers fear Olwethu Makhanya could have his head turned by growing interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

The 22-year-old has been outstanding since completing his move to Ibrox from Philadelphia Union during the summer, but those displays have attracted high-profile interest.

Bournemouth and Sunderland are both believed to be among the English clubs to have sent scouts to Ibrox to watch the centre-back, who could be set to move on already.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Rangers are determined to keep hold of Makhanya but it may prove difficult amid Premier League interest.

The money on offer in English football, alongside the chance to play at a higher level than Rangers can reach, are likely to prove tempting to the South Africa international.

As a result, fears are growing at Rangers that they may be unable to keep hold of Makhanya long-term and could be forced to cash in on him sooner rather than later.

How do Rangers feel about selling Olwethu Makhanya?

Brown told Football Insider on 15 October that Rangers are prepared to do everything in their power to prevent Makanya leaving the club despite interest from elsewhere.

Derek McInnes' side are prepared to pull out all of the stops to keep him at the club, as they put ambitious plans in place for what could be a successful season at Ibrox.

Premier League clubs' financial might could force Rangers into a decision, however, with fears that Makhanya could be tempted to pursue a move to English football in 2027.

"Rangers are always going to find it difficult to keep players when Premier League clubs come calling," Brown told Football Insider.

"They obviously can't match the finances on offer, so if offers are going to be made for their best players, it can be hard to convince them to stick around on less money.

"Plus, from their perspective, when big-money offers come in for these players it can be very tempting to accept because then they can reinvest into their squad.

"They obviously want to keep their best players, and that certainly goes for Makhanya, but they'll be worried because the fear is always that he might have his head turned by the interest.

"A move to the Premier League is bound to be tempting for Makhanya or any other Rangers player, and if they come forward, it could be difficult to keep him at the club."

What price tag has been placed on Makhanya?

Despite Rangers' determination to keep Makanya at the club, there is a feeling that the right offer could tempt them to sell given the new recruitment model in place.

The Ibrox club are placing an emphasis on buying young players for low fees, developing them into top stars, and then selling them on to make significant profits.

As a result, former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that a £20million fee could be enough to prise Makhanya away from Rangers next summer.

There is a belief, however, that a fee of that size would still be too small in the grand scheme of things and Rangers could look to further boost his price tag.

Instead, they have been backed to hand the centre-back a new contract to secure his future at the club and ensure they will get the best possible fee for his services.