Northampton Town’s Ali Koiki would be open to potentially replacing Rangers hero Calvin Bassey at Ibrox, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Lowdown: Left-back wanted
After Bassey sealed his move to Ajax this week, Giovanni van Bronckhorst is seemingly wasting no time in finding a replacement for the former fan favourite.
Indeed, Besiktas gem Ridvan Yilmaz seems to be the front-runner for the role, and is keen to join, but he’s not the only man in Ross Wilson’s sights.
Koiki has also emerged as a target, with Football Insider reporting the Gers will battle Derby County for his services, and now O’Rourke has delivered some more good news on the chase for the young defender.
The Latest: Koiki would be keen to join
Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, the reporter suggests Koiki would be enticed to make the step up from the English League Two to the Scottish Premiership.
“If Rangers are following up their interest in Koiki I’m sure it’s a deal that he would find hard to turn down, as well as Northampton, the chance to go and join such a big club as Rangers.”
The Verdict: Good candidate
While Yilmaz certainly possesses more experience on the big stage – the young Turkey international has six senior caps to his name and even some minutes in Champions League matches, Koiki is certainly an interesting alternative.
The 22 year-old came through Burnley’s youth ranks before moving down the football ladder, where he has since gone from strength to strength, racking up a whopping 49 appearances for Northampton last season.
His impressive durability and form has caught plenty of attention, with Football Insider’s report describing a ‘stand out’ player who’s attracted ‘talent spotters across the UK’ for his powerful runs down the flank.
Capable of playing a more advanced role on the left of midfield also, we feel Koiki should be a serious candidate for Rangers.
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