Rangers have been heavily linked in recent days with a move for Hansa Rostock striker Ryan Naderi as they look to strengthen their squad for the run-in.
The 22-year-old German forward was believed to be keen on a switch to Ibrox, but his current club have stood firm on keeping him.
Rangers had hoped he would become their fourth arrival of the January window, following the signings of Andreas Skov Olsen, Tuur Rommens and Tochi Chukwuani.
However, talks with the German third-tier side have failed to produce an agreement. Naderi has managed eight goals and four assists in 18 league outings this season, though stepping up from the 3. Liga would have represented a gamble in terms of quality.
Rangers edge towards new striker addition
The Gers also explored a potential move for Leeds United forward Joel Piroe as a fallback option. They were hopeful the Dutch-born striker might consider a temporary exit after struggling in the Premier League, where he has yet to score this term. But that avenue now appears closed, with Piroe seemingly set to remain at Elland Road.
Attention has instead shifted to another option in England, and Rangers are now closing in on what could be their fourth signing of the window. talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook claims the club are “getting close” to landing Southampton striker Cameron Archer in a late deal before Monday’s deadline. Meanwhile, the Daily Record suggests Rangers are leading the race to bring in the 24-year-old on loan through to the end of the 2025/26 season.
The former Aston Villa forward is expected to provide competition and depth alongside Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti in Danny Rohl’s attacking setup.
Why Archer makes more sense than Naderi
A loan move for Archer may not immediately excite supporters, especially as he has only netted twice in the Championship this season. Still, it’s worth remembering Southampton paid £15 million for him in the summer of 2024 — a figure higher than Rangers’ current transfer record — showing the level of belief previously placed in his potential.
Before that switch, Archer impressed during loan spells with Preston North End, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. Across those stints, he racked up 17 goals and six assists in 40 Championship appearances and also found the net four times in the Premier League.
He showed flashes of real quality in the top flight with Sheffield United, scoring four goals and creating six big chances in 21 starts for a struggling side, which helped convince Southampton to invest heavily.
While his return of nine goals in 64 games for the Saints hasn’t lived up to that price tag, his earlier track record suggests there is more to come.
In contrast, Naderi has yet to play above Germany’s third tier and has never hit double figures in a league season.
Archer, on the other hand, has proven he can score in both the Championship and the Premier League, including a double-digit return during a half-season spell with Middlesbrough — making him the more proven and less risky option for Rangers.
Leave a Reply