Rangers legend Barry Ferguson is pushing the club to re-sign Czech winger Vaclav Cerny if he becomes available from current club Besiktas this summer.
Cerny, 28, spent last season on loan at Ibrox from Wolfsburg and made a significant impression, scoring 18 goals in all competitions during his time in Glasgow.
Ferguson worked directly with the winger during his spell as interim manager at the end of that season and says the experience convinced him Cerny is the real deal.
The former Rangers captain stated plainly that a move for Cerny should have been completed a year ago, calling it an opportunity the club let slip.
In his Record Sport column, Ferguson said: “I worked with him during my time in charge and it’s a transfer that should have happened last summer.”
He added: “I’d take him in a heartbeat. I liked everything about Vash. He probably didn’t understand how big the club was when he first came but he soon took to it.”
Ferguson highlighted Cerny’s competitive temperament as a key quality, noting the winger’s drive and emotion during difficult moments in matches.
“He’s got a bit about him. When things weren’t going right, he wasn’t happy. He had a bit of anger in him, which I really like,” Ferguson said.
The Rangers legend also pointed to Cerny’s familiarity with the club as a major advantage over signing an unknown quantity from abroad this window.
“The beauty of getting someone like Vash back is that he knows the club already, he understands it. He wouldn’t need a setting-in period,” Ferguson explained.
Cerny currently earns around £2.5 million per year in Turkey, a wage that could make any potential deal complicated for Rangers to structure.
New manager Derek McInnes has already added Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Ivor Pandur, Dan Neil, and Ben Godfrey to his squad ahead of the new campaign.
Rangers are also pursuing Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, though the club will not meet the Norwegians’ reported asking price of £8.5 million.
A bid is on the table for Hjerto-Dahl and discussions are continuing, but Rangers are holding firm on their valuation of the Norwegian Under-21 international.
The club also remains in talks with Partizan Belgrade over captain Vanja Dragojevic, after an initial offer of £3.8 million was rejected last week.
Rangers have returned with an increased offer for Dragojevic and are hopeful of completing a deal as McInnes looks to strengthen his midfield options.
Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin has attracted interest from clubs in England and Europe following his impressive performances at the World Cup this summer.
Rangers are braced for formal bids for Raskin, whose country faces Spain in a quarter-final clash in Los Angeles, increasing his profile significantly.
The club is also looking to move on several players deemed surplus to requirements, including Jose Cifuentes, Danilo, Oscar Cortes, Nedim Bajrami, and Ross McCausland.
Young Ibrox talents Kyle Glasgow and Max Cameron are set to join Alloa Athletic on loan as they continue their development ahead of the new season.
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