Rangers Eye January Move for Besiktas Forward Vaclav Cerny
Rangers may look to bring Vaclav Cerny back to Ibrox during the January transfer window, according to a report from GlasgowWorld, citing Turkish outlet Fotospor. The article states that Besiktas seeks to sign Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo and needs to offload either Cerny or loanee Ernest Poku. The 29-year-old Czech international is the favored candidate to depart, with Rangers identified as a likely destination given a “suitable offer.”
Derek McInnes had previously attempted to secure Cerny’s services last summer after the forward netted 18 goals and provided nine assists in 52 appearances during his loan from Wolfsburg in the 2024/25 season. Besiktas turned down an initial £5.1 million offer amid a £10 million valuation, compounded by Cerny’s £45,000 weekly wages, making the transfer more complicated. Eventually, Rangers opted for different wingers.
Cerny has shown impressive statistics this season, tallying two goals and one assist in 10 Süper Lig appearances, with his performance data highlighting two goals in line with his expected output of 1.92 goals from 15 shots, along with 13 chances created. However, concerns arise regarding his defensive contributions, as he manages to win only 25 percent of his duels and ranks low in aerial contests among comparable attackers, as per FotMob data.
Despite these defensive shortcomings, McInnes could benefit from Cerny’s creativity. With younger wingers like Djeidi Gassama, Badredine Bouanani, and Findlay Curtis struggling with consistent output, Cerny’s ability to cut in from the right as a left-footer may provide a valuable shooting angle, complemented by his familiarity with the Scottish game.
However, there’s debate over his worth. While some suggest that a £10 million fee is excessive, a transfer around £6 million could be more reasonable. Cerny brings experience and a proven track record in Scotland, but considering his age, he presents minimal resale value, with FotMob estimating his market worth at approximately £4.6 million (€5.5 million). Besiktas had previously acquired him for around £5 million last September, which casts doubts on a £10 million asking price for an older player, especially since his wages would add an annual cost of about £2.3 million.
The physical demands of the Scottish Premiership, particularly matches against teams like Celtic and Hearts, further complicate the decision. A winger with a dueling success rate of only 25 percent will require strong support from defenders and midfielders.
Rangers find themselves in a more advantageous position this January, as Besiktas needs to create space for Kubo before finalizing their own roster adjustments. If the Turkish club continues to demand £10 million, McInnes could consider investing in a younger winger with better duel statistics and a longer career potential instead.
