Forget Skov Olsen: Rangers star could be a £69m sensation in the making

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl may have been taken aback by the reaction from the Ibrox crowd at half-time in midweek, but the home support are fully justified in demanding more. Expectations are high for a reason.

With the gap at the top of the Premiership now trimmed to just three points, Rangers are firmly embedded in the title race. Following a busy and ambitious transfer window, there can be few excuses left for Rohl’s side as the season enters a decisive phase.

The standout arrival in January was undoubtedly Andreas Skov Olsen. The Danish winger arrived on loan from Wolfsburg amid hopes he could replicate the impact Vaclav Cerny once made after making a similar switch from Germany to Glasgow.

Early signs have been encouraging, too. Skov Olsen has already opened his account in Rangers colours and has matched his Bundesliga goal tally after a challenging first half of the campaign.

While much of Rangers’ title aspirations may rest on his shoulders, Skov Olsen will not be expected to shoulder the burden alone.

Why Rangers’ front four struggled against Kilmarnock

Rangers’ emphatic 5-1 victory over ten-man Kilmarnock on Wednesday night masked a subdued first-half display that raised eyebrows inside Ibrox.

Rohl made the bold call to leave all four January signings on the bench, a decision that did little to spark creativity before the break.

Breaking down a team reduced to ten men is never straightforward, as Rohl was quick to point out, but Rangers’ attacking play lacked imagination.

Thelo Asgaard and Djeidi Gassama combined for just two key passes before being withdrawn in the second half, underlining the struggle to unlock a stubborn defence.

The contrast was stark once the substitutes were introduced. Skov Olsen matched that key-pass tally on his own after coming on, while also scoring his first goal for the club.

Oliver Antman also made a decisive impact, contributing two key passes along with a goal and an assist late in the contest.

Ideally, Rohl may look to create genuine competition on the right flank between Antman and Skov Olsen, while Gassama could battle with youngster Mikey Moore for a starting spot on the left.

The arrival of full-back Tuur Rommens could also prove beneficial, offering added support and balance down that side.

Skov Olsen’s creativity — evidenced by his 30 assists in 124 appearances for Club Brugge — may even see him deployed centrally as a number ten, particularly with Rangers still lacking a natural playmaker capable of consistently pulling the strings behind the striker.

Up front, Bojan Miovski netted his fourth league goal of the season against Kilmarnock, but his overall display was frustrating.

With Youssef Chermiti unavailable in midweek, new signing Ryan Naderi could soon be handed the opportunity to make that central role his own, with the 22-year-old already viewed as a potential star in the making.

Why Rangers may have a £69m talent on their hands

With Moore operating from the left and Skov Olsen from the right, the fiercest competition may emerge at number ten or centre-forward — and Naderi is well equipped to fill either role.

During his time with Hansa Rostock this season, the technically gifted forward recorded eight goals and four assists in Germany’s third tier, often operating as a striker with the freedom to drop deep and influence play.

While his limited senior experience could raise questions, Rangers appear to have secured an astute piece of business, paying around £4.7m to complete the deal on deadline day.

That figure may ultimately pale in comparison to the potential £8.6m required to sign Skov Olsen permanently, particularly if Naderi’s ceiling proves to be higher — something Rohl himself has hinted at.

“I spoke today with some coaches in Germany and received a lot of messages,” Rohl revealed. “They compare him to former players like Fredi Bobic and Nick Woltemade.”

“If he can bring that level here, we will have a lot of fun with him.”

Those comparisons are significant. Woltemade, now a Bundesliga and Premier League performer, rose from Germany’s lower leagues to the top level, much like Naderi is attempting to do.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Woltemade has thrived both as a central striker and in deeper attacking roles, scoring 18 goals in his lone season at Stuttgart before earning a high-profile move.

Already on nine goals this season, the 23-year-old is beginning to justify his eye-watering £69m valuation — a remarkable rise for a player who featured in the third tier as recently as the 2022/23 campaign.

That pathway offers Rangers hope. If Naderi follows a similar trajectory, the Light Blues may have uncovered a gem.

While Skov Olsen was rightly viewed as the headline signing of the window, the long-term upside suggests Naderi could yet prove to be the more exciting acquisition.