
Rangers ‘in transfer battle with one other club for highly-rated Croatian defender'
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RANGERS have reportedly joined the race to sign Croatian defender Luka Jelenić.
SunSport already told you how Russell Martin is closing in on moves for Max Aarons and Kwame Poku, but reports in Croatia now suggest the manager is looking at a new centre-back too.
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Luka Jelenic playing for NK Osijek
Credit: Alamy
Jelenić, 25, is believed to be on his way out of his current club Osijek this summer just one year after they signed him from league rivals NK Varaždin for a fee of around €800,000 (£685,000).
He made 40 appearances across all competitions last season - 32 in the league as Osijek finished seventh.
Jelenić even featured four times on the continental stage but his side failed to qualify for the Europa Conference League after losing on penalties to Zira FC in the third round.
The defender still has two years left on his contract after penning a three-year deal last summer but Croatian outlet 24Sata state that he's expected to leave the club in the coming weeks amid growing interest.
In the report it's suggested Rangers are set to battle it out with Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes for his signature.
The 25-year-old was a key player under the manager who signed him, Federico Coppitelli, and current gaffer Simon Rožman - who took over in March.
But after failing to qualify for Europe this year, it's likely the club will cash in for a nice profit.
It's unclear just how much Osijek will as for, but they are hopeful of securing "serious money" for their prized asset.
Their sporting director Alen Petrovic has revealed the club need to sell first before they enter the transfer market themselves - so a quick deal could be on the cards.
The club have reportedly made it clear they are willing to part ways with Jelenić and team-mate Rok Jurišić this summer.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
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