Rangers beat Leicester City to signing of Finnish winger, player to sign tomorrow

[pete 2,499]

Rangers have reportedly won the chase for Finnish youngster Serge Atakayi, according to reports in Finland.

 

Rangers will complete a deal for Congolese-Finnish youngster Serge Atakayi tomorrow, according to reports in Finland.

 

The winger had been on trial at a number of clubs and was being chased by Leicester City, but after spending a period on trial at Rangers, the youngster has reportedly decided to opt for a spell at Ibrox,according to Ilta-Sanomat, the second biggest newspaper in the country.

 

The youngster, who is Congolese but holds a Finnish passport, was also being chased by Young Boys, among a host of other clubs, but it seems Rangers have won the race.

 

Hopefully "club needs quality centre-back, club signs 17yo winger" isn’t a further descent into late-Wengerness of Mark Warburton’s tenure at Rangers and just a sign of our ability to recruit top youngsters to boost our academy functioning well. Hopefully he’ll be a success at Ibrox, but it’s definitely one for the future.

[der Berliner 3,249]

Not that the DR knows that much, but ...

 

Rangers trialist Serge Atakayi pens new deal with Finnish club BEFORE heading for Murray Park trial

 

13:33, 5 Jul 2016 Updated 13:45, 5 Jul 2016 By Paul Black

 

FINNISH winger out to impress but the Ibrox side will have to stump up after FF Jaro give 17-year-old a one-year contract extension.

 

RANGERS will have to stump up for Finnish youngster Serge Atakayi after the winger signed a new one-year deal BEFORE jetting in to Glasgow for a trial.

 

The 17-year old Congo-born player agreed a contract extension with Finnish club FF Jaro just before heading to Murray Park.

 

Atakayi, who can play on either flank, has already spent a week on trial with English Premier League champions Leicester City earlier this year and has had three trial spells with Fulham.

 

Rangers moved quickly to bring the youngster, who holds the record of being the youngest player to score in Finnish football, to Scotland having sent scouts to watch him in his last two matches.

 

A statement on the FF Jaro website said: "Serge Atakayi has made an agreement with FF Jaro on a contract extension.

 

"The agreement runs until the end of the period in 2017.

"Atakayin's skills have attracted interest from across Europe, and now the youngster is facing a new test period with Rangers, having left on Monday for Glasgow.

 

"Serge will return FF Jaro on Saturday."

 

Ibrox scout and academy coach Alan Boyd was the man tasked with watching Atakayi in Finland and, after seeing him impress in Sunday’s game against Oulu, said: "He is a very good prospect and it will be good to see what he can do training with Rangers.

 

"I liked the way he played and he looks like he is learning about the game all the time.

 

"The next step is to see how he fits in at Rangers and how he trains with us.

 

"So yes, we have a serious interest in Serge."

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-trialist-serge-atakayi-pens-8353762

 

 

At Transfermarkt -> http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/serge-atakayi/profil/spieler/333275

 

He's the youngest ever goalscorer in the Finnish League at 16 years and 3 months.

[Gribz 743]

If he is good enough he is old enough.

 

Centre half is the priority but a winger wouldn't be a bad move, it could allow McKay to play more central.

[pete 2,499]

If he is good enough he is old enough.

 

Centre half is the priority but a winger wouldn't be a bad move, it could allow McKay to play more central.

I think he is more for the academy but you never know.

[tango 0]

All very good signing young players for the future and possible sell on value , but the problem is now and our shite defence , a wee bit more urgency in acquiring a centre half or two wouldn't go amiss

[barca72 440]

All very good signing young players for the future and possible sell on value , but the problem is now and our shite defence , a wee bit more urgency in acquiring a centre half or two wouldn't go amiss

 

What if there are no CHs in our price range out there?

[Gribz 743]

What if there are no CHs in our price range out there?

 

Then Davie Weir will need to get his boots on, and probably a recall for Big Eck.

 

There has to be availability out there, I cant believe we can take Clint Hill but not improve on that. Im sure we do Due diligence.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Gribz

[RANGERRAB 3,260]

What if there are no CHs in our price range out there?

 

Get one in on loan?

[Frankie 8,151]

Looks like a really useful development signing.

 

Yes a centre half is a first team priority but our development squad is also being rebuilt so it's good to see us adding quality there.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Frankie

[tango 0]

What if there are no CHs in our price range out there?

 

Then we're in real trouble when Boyd can outpace your defence you have a problem