Romanian super agent Giovanni Becali has hinted that reported Rangers target Darius Olaru could head to America.
The FCSB midfielder has been linked with a switch to Ibrox, where he didn’t feature for the Romanian outfit in there 4-0 Europa League hammering by Philippe Clement‘s side back in October. A €4million release clause in his contract makes Olaru an attractive prospect for clubs bargains in the January sales. Midfield seems to be an area that Clement and Nils Koppen are focusing on, with Gers reportedly doing their homework on Standard Liege’s Northern Irish international Isaac Price.
However, it seems MLS clubs are on alert over Olaru and Becali joked that Donald Trump’s election as president is now a factor in where Olaru might be playing next year. He told Fanatik: “Olaru remains the same player courted by several clubs. We’ll see if it’s possible in January. €5 million and he’ll leave too. Maybe in America… there’s also the American version, since Trump has become president, we’ll go there too!”
The player himself has suggested that he’s keen to seek a new challenge in 2025. He said: “For me, it was a perfect year. I think for my colleagues too. We won the title after so many years, we have a very good track record in Europe and, besides, we were also at the Euros [European Championships] and had good results,” Olaru says.
“I don’t know for sure [if I will leave FCSB in 2025]. I would like to. But, at the same time, I know I still have work to do here. I’ll see what happens in the near future.”
Meanwhile, Ianis hagi has been touted as Patrick Vieira’s first signing for Genoa. The Arsenal legend only recently took over at the Serie A outfit, who have just been bought by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu.
And Gazetta dello Sport claim that Hagi could provide a solution to Vieira’s issue of having to shoehorn a right back and central midfielder into attacking wide roles. He said: “Let’s not forget that, on the right, we play with a full-back (Zanoli, ed.), while on the left we play with an element (Miretti) who would be more central. Pinamonti, of the three in front, is the only one who plays in his place”.
And finally, Rangers have been told Marko Soldo is now worth £15 million now according to his mentor, former Hajduk Split chief Zdravko Mamic.
The Ibrox side have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old defensive midfielder, who pays for Osijek.
They were reportedly tipped off about his abilities by former Rangers star Borna Barisic who advised targeting his old club in Croatia.
Soldo was on the books of Dinamo Zagreb who sold him to Osijek in the summer for a bargain fee of £300,000, but he is rated at up to ten times that now after an excellent first half of the season. And Mamic, who became an agent after leaving Hajduk, had Soldo as a client and insists he would be more millions more if he stayed at Dinamo.
He recalled: “I did some research and found a player named Marko Soldo. Now he is currently the most promising defensive midfielder in Croatian football. When I had him I agreed on a deal that sent him from Siroki Brijeg to Dinamo for £100,000. Dinamo then sold him to Osijek for £300,000 six months ago If he was still at Dinamo and playing in their Champions League games, he would be worth £15 million now. I can say with a high degree of certainty he will be a top player.”