Philippe Clement is determined to strengthen his squad in January but faces the challenge of working with a limited budget.
Scottish Premiership giants Rangers are reportedly leading the race to sign CSKA Moscow midfielder Sasa Zdjelar this winter. The Light Blues are seeking reinforcements after falling 15 points behind league leaders Celtic in this season’s title race.
Despite a disappointing 1-1 draw with Dundee that highlighted ongoing struggles, Clement insists he has the board’s support to continue rebuilding. However, he acknowledged earlier in the transfer window that the club must operate within a tight financial framework to comply with PSR regulations.
Mail Sport reports that Zdjelar, 29, fits Rangers’ requirements due to his contract situation. FIFA currently allows foreign players to suspend contracts with Russian clubs amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Rangers face competition from several German clubs but hold the advantage of offering Europa League football—a competition Russian clubs have been banned from since 2022.
What could Sasa Zdjelar bring to Rangers?
Zdjelar is a 29-year-old Serbian international midfielder who began his career with OFK Beograd as a 16-year-old in 2011. He played a pivotal role in Serbia’s U20 World Cup-winning team in 2015 alongside stars like Sergej Milinković-Savić and Predrag Rajković.
He joined Greek club Olympiakos the same year but struggled for consistent playing time, leading to loan spells with Real Mallorca in Spain and Partizan in Serbia. After impressing at Partizan, he was signed permanently, making 197 appearances, scoring six goals, and providing 21 assists. He also occasionally featured as a centre-back.
In July 2022, Zdjelar moved to CSKA Moscow, where he has been a key figure, amassing 96 appearances, one goal, and an assist, while helping the team win a Russian Cup. His strong form has earned him a regular spot in Serbia’s national team, with six of his nine caps coming in 2024 under coach Dragan Stojković.
Zdjelar’s versatility, experience, and leadership could provide Rangers with much-needed stability and quality in the midfield as they aim to close the gap
on their rivals.
