The Light Blues may be tempted to trigger the option to buy clause for their loanee in the summer window.
Nasser Djiga is enjoying his best form in a Rangers shirt since joining on loan from Wolves last summer - but Kevin Thomson isn’t sure whether the Light Blues should pursue a deal for him beyond his short term spell.
Wolves look destined for the drop in the English Premier League but are still reportedly wanting top dollar for the defender, whose rumoured fee is around £8m. The Black Country side signed Djiga for £10m from Red Star Belgrade before farming him out to Ibrox.
At the start of the season, Djiga struggled to get to grips with the Scottish game, notably got sent off on his Ibrox league debut against Dundee. The Burkina Faso International lost his place in the team to John Souttar and Emmanuel Fernandez at the back but a recent resurgence in form has resulted in him starting Rangers’ last three outings.
Thomson questions Djiga rumoured fee
Speaking on The Breakdown podcast alongside Charlie Mulgrew, former Rangers midfielder Thomson asked whether it’s worth Rangers’ while to secure Djiga on a permanent deal. He said: “Am I right in saying somebody said that the buy clause for Djiga is £8m? That’s a lot of money for a centre-back in Scotland.”
Djiga particularly impressed in Rangers’ 4-1 win over Aberdeen last weekend as he begins to develop a strong partnership with Fernandez. Thomson admitted that Danny Rohl has perhaps ‘stumbled’ his way into finding his best centre back pairing given that Marseille loanee Derek Cornelius and Souttar were the preferred duo earlier in the season.
Rangers have conceded just one goal in the three games Djiga and Fernandez have started at the back which came from a Tochi Chukwuani error against the Dons. Thomson believes if the pair keep up their performances they could have a huge influence on Rangers’ title hopes.
Thomson makes Fernandez Premier League claim
He continued: “I think Fernandez looks great. He’s grown and grown and grown. Don’t quote me on his height but what is he? 6’ 6”? He’s an absolute monster! And he can play. He can handle the ball. You could argue that they’ve stumbled across them a wee bit (Djiga and Fernandez) because I’m not so sure they were first choice at the start of the season.
“On Saturday against Aberdeen I thought when (Toyosi) Olusanya came on he’d cause problems because he’s a powerful lad and he puts himself about. But they both stood up to the physical challenge. I don’t want to write off John Souttar, but if they both stay fit with at the ages they are and the profile they’ve got, they could keep him out the team.
“I think with Fernandez, Danny Rohl deserves an enormous amount of credit. We live in an industry now that’s dominated by data. What more could you want? 6ft’6, strong, fast, aggressive in both boxes and he can play. He could play in the Premier League easy.”
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