Rangers ‘interested in prolific Croatian striker' who scored goal ‘like Messi' and looks set to leave club this summer
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RANGERS are interested in a summer transfer swoop for prolific striker Matija Frigan, according to reports in Croatia.
The 22-year-old scored 14 goals in 41 games for Westerlo of Belgium last season.
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Matija Frigan could be on the move this summer
Credit: AFP
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Westerlo will want a profit on the £4.5m they splashed out on him in 2023
Credit: AFP
A Croatian youth international, Frigan joined Westerlo two years ago from Rijeka in his homeland for around £4.5m.
It was reported around that time that Rangers were keen on him, and 24 Sata suggests they have reared their interest again now that Russell Martin is in place as the club's new head coach.
According to the report, German outfit Hamburg SV are monitoring the player and a club in La Liga has also emerged as a potential suitor.
Frigan signed a five-year deal with Westerlo when he arrived in 2023 so it will likely take a sizeable bid to force the Belgian side to part with the striker.
He has been capped at youth level for Croatia at every level from under-18 to under-21.
Frigan was called up to the senior squad for the first time in August 2023 on the back of his breakout season at Rijeka, in which he scored 15 goals in 31 matches.
Croatian head coach Zlatko Dalic called Frigan up for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Latvia and Armenia, but he remained on the bench.
Frigan has also spent time on loan at Orijent 1919 and Hrvatski Dragovoljac in Croatia.
While primarily a centre-forward, he was occasionally used as a right winger with Rijeka and even more so during his loan spell at Hrvatski Dragovoljac
He Frigan is left-footed and stands at just over six feet tall.
Rangers fans react to news Russell Martin is their new manager
But a recent goal for Westerlo saw him compared to diminutive genius Lionel Messi by media in his homeland.
The striker produced some terrific footwork to outfox four separate challenges at close range inside the penalty box before rifling the ball home with his weaker right foot.
The goal against Dender made it 2-2 on the night and propelled Westerlo to a 4-2 win in the end.
Media in Belgium likened him to another dribbling maestro, Brazilian legend Ronaldinho.
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