Six Rangers frontline transfer options ranked and rated as 63 goal void leaves Russell Martin on the hunt for hitmen
Rangers have so far stood strong in the face of interest in their top two strikers this summer.
But if Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane do depart over the next few weeks, it would leave the Ibrox outfit worryingly short on firepower.
Dessers - who netted 29 goals last term - is being chased by AEK Athens while Igamane is being targeted by Lille after contributing 16 strikes during an impressive maiden year in Glasgow.
And little wonder the club are digging their heels in.
Combined with the 18 goals scored by Vaclav Cerny - who has already returned to Wolfsburg after his season-long loan - the trio were responsible for 63 goals last term.
That represents more than half of the total of 115 Rangers managed across the entire campaign.
With both AEK and Lille continuing to monitor developments at Ibrox, just who might Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell turn to to provide the goals at Ibrox next season in the event that both their current marksmen do leave?
Here Record Sport takes a look at the candidates to fill the attacking slots across Gers frontline next season - and what it will take to sign them…
Dor Turgeman
The big Israeli frontman's name has been swirling around the Ibrox fanbase for weeks now.
At 6ft 1ins, the powerful yet dynamic Maccabi Tel Aviv ace has all the tools Gers would be looking for in a No9, with his strong ball carrying skills and tidy finishing abilities.
The 21-year-old has fired 31 goals in his last two seasons in the Israeli Premier League and has recently made the step up to the international stage with eight caps.
It looks like Turgeman is Rangers' top choice to replace either Dessers or Igamane - but he won't come cheap, with Maccabi demanding a £5million fee.
Weslley Patati
Turgeman could well end up being reunited with one of his Tel Aviv pals, with Gers reportedly keen on his Maccabi team-mate Patati.
Affectionately dubbed the 'Brazilian magician' by the Israeli club's supporters, the 21-year-old former Santos kid made a £1million move to the Middle East last year and helped his new side to a league and cup double.
His former club are due a 40 percent slice of any future profits for the winger so that will likely see Maccabi look to squeeze every last penny out of negotiations with Ibrox chiefs.
Having netted 13 times in 38 appearances, Gers may have to pay up to £8million to secure his signature.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
The Crystal Palace wideman's name emerged as a potential target over the weekend.
The 22-year-old spent last year on loan at Sheffield United, where he netted seven times in 26 appearances.
Blades bosses had hoped to make his move permanent had they won promotion to the Premier League - but saw those hopes dashed when they crashed out in the play-offs.
Martin knows the player well having tried to sign him for Southampton last summer. The deal might test Gers' spending power, however, with the Eagles looking for a hefty £10million payday.
The Croatian frontman is another contender for the centre-forward slot - although Gers face serious competition from English Championship outfit Hull.
He netted 15 goals in 32 games for Belgian outfit K.V.C. Westerlo - now managed by former Ibrox coach Issame Charai.
Rangers remain keen on the 22-year-old but will have to act quick as the Tigers close in on a £5million swoop.
Luuk De Jong
The PSV Eindhoven targetman has been suggested as possible recruit for Martin this summer although it remains to be seen how serious these links are.
At 34, the former Newcastle, Seville and Barcelona striker is no spring chicken.
But his years of experience have been put to good use in the Netherlands by PSV lately, where he helped the Eindhoven outfit to back-to-back Eredivisie titles.
With close to 300 career goals, it might be a deal that makes sense even in the short-term, especially with the former PSV captain now out of contract.
Jamie Vardy
The former England striker's name has been doing the rounds all summer - but he's so far yet to trap in Glasgow.
Like De Jong, Vardy - a member of the Premier League's 100 club - is firmly in the veteran category having turned 38 in January.
But it didn't look like his legs had slowed too much last season, where he still managed to net 10 goals as his struggling Leicester side ended up relegated.
As another free agent, all Gers would need to worry financially would be his wages.
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