Rangers Complete Kelsy Deal as Late Transfers Heat Up

What was meant to be a tidy, controlled finish to Rangers’ summer has erupted into a full‑blown deadline‑day scramble. Derek McInnes has his new No 9, but Ibrox is anything but closed for business.

Kelsy deal finally over the line

The big one is done. Kevin Kelsy is a Rangers player.

The Venezuelan striker arrives from Portland Timbers in a deal worth around £9.5 million plus add‑ons, a huge sale for the MLS club and a statement outlay from Ibrox in the final hours of the Scottish window.

Rangers earmarked Kelsy weeks ago as the man to replace Youssef Chermiti, whose ACL injury against Hibs has ruled him out until at least after the New Year. The move has been inching towards completion ever since, with fans growing restless for confirmation.

MLS insider Tom Bogert moved to calm any nerves, revealing the final delay centred on the player’s share of the transfer fee. Once that was ironed out, the deal was pushed over the line.

“He travelled to Europe several days ago,” Bogert told Soccerwise HQ. “The Scottish window is open until tomorrow night. That deal is done. £9.5million plus add-ons. A huge deal for the Portland Timbers.”

Kelsy’s arrival had been billed by McInnes as the likely final piece of his summer rebuild. The market has had other ideas.

Bouanani on the brink

Rangers are now deep in talks to bring in Stuttgart winger Badredine Bouanani on loan, with an option to buy that underlines just how aggressively the club is now operating.

McInnes hinted at more business after the win over Falkirk, admitting he had one “little thing” still on his mind once he spoke with sporting director Jim Gillespie on the journey home. That “little thing” has grown into a potentially record‑breaking commitment.

Bouanani, 21, is already in Scotland and undergoing a medical. The proposed deal is a loan from Stuttgart with an €18 million option to buy – a figure that would represent a major investment and could become a Scottish record if Rangers decide to trigger it.

The Algerian is no stranger to Ibrox. He scored for Nice in their 4-1 Europa League win over Philippe Clement’s Rangers at Ibrox in 2024, a night that left a mark on the home support and clearly on the club’s recruitment team.

Strasbourg had been in position to land him, but Rangers have surged to the front. If the paperwork is completed in time, Bouanani will return to Glasgow with the chance to turn a short‑term stay into something far more substantial.

Bajraktarevic in the frame

Bouanani may not be the only winger through the door.

Esmir Bajraktarevic has emerged as another live option, with Rangers in discussions with PSV over a possible move for the 21‑year‑old US‑born Bosnia and Herzegovina international.

Daily Record reporter Scott Burns has reported that Bajraktarevic sits firmly on Rangers’ radar. The wide man only joined PSV from New England Revolution in January 2025 and is under contract until 2029, but Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink has stated the player “could still leave” this window.

Rangers’ recruitment department, with Dan Purdy heavily involved, have done extensive homework on the winger. Interest from elsewhere means any Ibrox move would need to accelerate quickly if they are to win that race.

No way back for Cerny

One name can be scored off the list.

Vaclav Cerny will not be returning to Ibrox. The Czech winger, previously linked with another spell in Glasgow, is not expected to leave Besiktas for Rangers.

His salary demands and a reluctance to walk away from the favourable tax set‑up in Turkey have effectively killed any chance of a deal. McInnes will have to strengthen his wide areas elsewhere.

Aasgaard heads out as squad reshaped

While Rangers push hard on incoming deals, the exit door has been just as busy.

Thelo Aasgaard has joined Anderlecht on loan with a €6 million purchase clause, following Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron out of the first‑team picture.

Aasgaard, who had also attracted interest from Bodo/Glimt, will spend the season in Belgium and link up again with former Rangers teammate Oliver Antman, who left earlier in the summer.

Barron has completed a move to Middlesbrough, while Cameron has joined Dundee United on loan for the season. Those three departures carve out vital room in McInnes’ squad and wage bill as the manager looks to fine‑tune his options for the campaign ahead.

Clinton Nsiala is expected to be next. The defender is set for a loan switch to Cypriot side Pafos, where he would team up with former Brazil and Chelsea defender David Luiz. Turkish club Bursaspor have also shown interest, but Pafos are currently in pole position.

McCausland, Souttar and Munn in shop window

Rangers are also open to moving on several fringe players before the window slams shut.

Ross McCausland is available for a loan, with Bursaspor among the clubs tracking the winger. John Souttar could also depart, with MLS sides and Scottish Premiership clubs monitoring his situation as a potential loan signing.

Goalkeeper Mason Munn is another likely to head out. The Northern Irishman has slipped down the pecking order after the arrival of Ivor Pandur and now sits behind Pandur, Liam Kelly and teenage prospect Rydnn McGuire.

Munn’s loans at Dunfermline and Forfar last season did not deliver the development Rangers had hoped for. A fresh temporary move is being sought to secure him regular first‑team minutes.

Miovski and Cifuentes to stay put

Not every story at Ibrox ends with a handshake and a photo.

Bojan Miovski now looks increasingly likely to remain at the club. Potential exits involving Feyenoord, LASK and Genclerbirligi have all faded, leaving the striker set to stay unless a late move emerges from Greece or another league with a longer window.

Jose Cifuentes will also stay, at least until January. The midfielder is still recovering from surgery following his loan spell at Toronto FC and is not expected to move before this window closes.

Raskin saga tilts back towards Rangers

Then there is Nicolas Raskin, whose future has swung back and forth all summer.

Besiktas pushed hard to lure the Belgian midfielder to Istanbul and at one stage appeared close to a loan with an option to buy. Rangers walked away from that structure and have now rejected a €12 million permanent offer.

Raskin returned to the team against Falkirk after being left out of the squads to face Jablonec and Aberdeen. McInnes has been unwavering in his stance that he would be more than happy to keep the midfielder.

“Nico has been first class,” the Rangers manager said. “Since he’s come back from the World Cup, he’s been good as gold, trained brilliantly.

“There has been a lot of chat with potential interest and a lot of conversation had with the club with prospective buyers. But until an offer comes in that the club needs to consider, then Nico just has to knuckle down and train.

“He’s been brilliant, and I have no doubts if the window closes and Nico is still a Rangers player, then he will give brilliant service as he has previously.”

With Besiktas knocked back again, that scenario now looks the most likely.

Final hours, big decisions

The shape of Rangers’ window has shifted dramatically in a matter of days. What McInnes initially framed as a window that would end with Kelsy has morphed into something far more ambitious.

Kelsy is through the door, a £9.5m centrepiece from Portland Timbers. Bouanani is closing in on a loan with an €18m option that would send shockwaves through the Scottish market. Bajraktarevic remains a live possibility as the club weigh up one last attacking addition.

At the same time, Aasgaard, Barron, Cameron and soon Nsiala are clearing space. McCausland, Souttar and Munn could yet follow as McInnes trims the edges of his squad.

The Scottish transfer window shuts at 5pm on Thursday. For Rangers, the question now is not whether they will be busy, but how bold they are prepared to be in these final, frantic hours.