Lille's Canadian forward Jonathan David (C) fights for the ball with AC Milan's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali (L) and AC Milan's Danish defender Simon Kjaer (R) during the UEFA Europa League Group H football match between Lille LOSC and AC Milan at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the outskirts of Lille, northern France on November 26, 2020. (Photo by DENIS CHARLET / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DENIS CHARLET/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Rangers are facing a serious test of their transfer resolve as Italian clubs submit offers for highly-rated Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama.
The Scottish giants agreed a £2.5 million deal for the 21-year-old despite financially stricken Sheffield Wednesday attempting to drive up the fee during negotiations.
Rangers moved quickly to secure the left-winger’s signature, with only minor issues remaining before the deal could be finalised and the player headed to Glasgow.
Gassama was set to sign a four-year contract at Ibrox, representing a significant long-term commitment from the Gers to the young winger’s development.
The Mauritania-born talent has attracted widespread attention across Europe, with Italian clubs now entering the race to complicate Rangers’ pursuit of a done deal.
Sheffield Wednesday’s precarious financial situation added an extra layer of complexity to the transfer, with owner Dejphon Chansiri seeking to sell the club amid ongoing money troubles.
Despite the Owls’ attempts to inflate the asking price, Rangers held firm in their valuation and pushed through to reach an agreement on an undisclosed fee.
Gassama made 47 appearances in his final season at Sheffield Wednesday, with all but seven of those coming as starts, demonstrating his importance to the Championship club.
The winger contributed eight goals during that impressive campaign, helping Wednesday finish 12th in the Championship despite the turmoil surrounding the club off the pitch.
Gassama has also represented France at Under-20 level on two occasions, highlighting the quality that has attracted interest from multiple clubs across Europe this window.
Rangers will be hoping the lure of regular football and a long-term contract at Ibrox is enough to fend off the Italian interest and get the deal over the line.
The situation underlines how competitive the market for emerging young talent in the Championship has become, with clubs from multiple leagues now scouting the second tier aggressively.
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