Rangers have encountered a setback in their pursuit of signing Albion Rrahmani from Rapid Bucuresti for the upcoming summer transfer window. Reports indicate that the Scottish club, along with Aston Villa and Benfica, are competing to acquire the services of the 23-year-old forward, who has scored 19 goals and provided 5 assists across all competitions this season.

Philippe Clement, the manager of an unnamed club, will be looking to sign a new striker during the upcoming summer transfer window. The current forward, Cyriel Dessers, has faced significant criticism despite scoring 22 goals this season.

However, Rangers have encountered an unusual setback in their pursuit of Albion Rrahmani, the 23-year-old striker from Rapid Bucuresti. The Romanian club has appointed a new manager ahead of the 2024/25 season, which will likely make it more challenging for Rangers to acquire the services of the in-form striker.

On Monday [20 May], Rapid Bucuresti confirmed the appointment of former Celtic manager Neil Lennon as their new head coach for the upcoming season.

Despite finishing second in the Romanian top division, Rapid Bucuresti subsequently finished bottom after the league split, similar to how the Scottish Premiership operates. This drop in performance could potentially motivate the 23-year-old striker, Albion Rrahmani, to consider leaving the club.

However, Neil Lennon’s appointment as Rapid Bucuresti’s new manager poses an additional challenge for Rangers. Given Lennon’s strong ties to Celtic, he may be reluctant to facilitate a transfer that could potentially strengthen Rangers, their Old Firm rivals, in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers Hit by Early Transfer Setback with Neil Lennon Appointment.

In a surprising turn of events, Rangers have been dealt an early blow in their summer transfer plans with the announcement of Neil Lennon’s new role. The former Celtic manager has been appointed as the head coach of Rapid Bucuresti, a move that could have significant implications for Rangers’ pursuit of striker Albion Rrahmani.

Rrahmani, a 23-year-old forward with an impressive record of 19 goals and 5 assists this season, has attracted interest from Rangers, Aston Villa, and Benfica. However, Lennon’s close association with Celtic adds a new layer of complexity to the transfer saga. His appointment at Rapid Bucuresti raises doubts about the ease of any potential deal that could see Rrahmani move to Rangers.

With the Scottish club aiming to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season, the unexpected twist involving Lennon’s appointment adds a challenging obstacle to their transfer plans. As Rangers navigate this early setback, the football world eagerly awaits to see how they will adapt and strategize in the face of this new development. Stay tuned for more updates as the transfer window unfolds.

The loyal supporters of Ibrox Stadium are likely to believe that Neil Lennon’s influence will greatly reduce the chances of Rangers securing the services of the 23-year-old striker. This potential outcome could negatively impact the club’s transfer strategies for the upcoming summer window.

This season, Cyriel Dessers has been the sole striker relied upon by the club, with Danilo sidelined due to injury for a significant portion of the campaign. Kemar Roofe’s situation is similar, although he has now announced his intention to leave the club.

As Fabio Silva and Abdallah Sima are expected to return to their respective parent clubs, and the future of Oscar Cortes remains uncertain, manager Philippe Clement will be eager to bolster the squad’s attacking options by adding more goal-scoring prowess.

Albion Rrahmani would have been an ideal signing for the club, given his impressive form throughout the 2023/24 season. However, with Neil Lennon’s appointment as Rapid Bucuresti’s manager, the chances of securing Rrahmani’s services have diminished significantly.

Rangers now have no choice but to explore alternative options in their search for a prolific striker to compete with Cyriel Dessers and Danilo for a starting position under Philippe Clement’s management. The club will need to act quickly to identify and pursue suitable replacements who can provide the necessary firepower to strengthen their attacking lineup for the upcoming season.