If Glasgow Rangers boss Derek McInnes was intending to send a message to the Ibrox board with his use of Ryan Naderi on Friday night, it appears to have done the trick.
The 54-year-old deployed the 6 foot 4 German in a makeshift right-wing role to minimal effect, with Naderi, and Djeidi Gassama on the opposite flank, swiftly hooked at half-time at Tannadice.
McInnes had been keen to stress the need for more additions following that frustrating 1-1 draw, with the Gers since moving swiftly to snap up Hannover’s Daisuke Yokota, the 26-year-old joining for a fee of around £3m.
There appears to be more to come too following Yokota’s arrival, with an £8m bid having already been lodged for Frosinone’s Fares Ghedjemis.
How Ghedjemis compared to Rangers wingers last season
Having seen that bumper offer for Ghedjemis knocked back by the Serie A side, the question remains as to whether the Light Blues will stump up an even bigger fee to get a deal over the line.
The 23-year-old has certainly warranted the mounting interest, that’s for sure, enjoying a sparkling season in Italy’s second tier to help propel Frosinone to promotion.
In the league alone, the Algerian chalked up 18 goals and assists from his right-wing berth, while also creating 11 ‘big chances’ and averaging a stellar 1.7 successful dribbles per game.
To put that into context, let’s see how that compares to Rangers’ shining light of last season, Mikey Moore, the teenager only actually racking up ten goals and assists, while creating seven ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.5 successful dribbles per game.
As for the aforementioned Gassama, the France-born speedster doesn’t appear to have recaptured the form he showcased across July and August last year, having ended 2025/26 with just eight goal involvements in the Premiership.
That was at least a significantly better return than forgotten man, Oliver Antman, the Finland international swiftly sold on to Anderlecht after registering just four goals and assists in his sole season at Ibrox.
That tally was matched by Andreas Skov Olsen during his muted six-month loan spell in 2026, the Dane swiftly fading from view as he started just one of the final six league games of the season.
|
Ghedjemis vs Rangers Wingers – 25/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Ghedjemis |
15 |
3 |
|
Moore |
7 |
3 |
|
Gassama |
3 |
5 |
|
Antman |
1 |
3 |
|
Skov Olsen |
1 |
3 |
|
Curtis** |
6 |
1 |
|
*League only – **including Killie |
||
Ghedjemis, clearly, would be an upgrade on that largely underwhelming pool of wingers, but he isn’t the only option on the table for McInnes and co.
How Rangers could seal a better signing than Ghedjemis
Ghedjemis’ quality doesn’t appear to be the issue, but the reported price tag is a major stumbling block, as seen in that failed initial bid by the Gers.
Sky Sports have outlined that Frosinone could be ready to demand as much as €20m (£17m), with the Italian outfit in no rush to sell following their recent promotion.
That appears too steep a fee for Rangers to gamble on, hence why a more affordable target could prove to be a far better signing.
Indeed, reports in Turkey have suggested that the Glasgow side are among the clubs interested in signing Fenerbahce’s Oguz Aydin, with ‘official contact’ from those suitors expected in the coming days, suggesting talks are set to be held.
The likes of Feyenoord, Hamburg and Espanyol are also in the mix, with it suggested that the 25-year-old could be available for around €7m (£6m).
For what could be almost a third, or at least half, of what Frosinone are demanding for Ghedjemis, that might well be worth the investment for the Ibrox side, with Aydin no slouch himself, it must be said.
It was a difficult 2025/26 campaign for the Turkish winger, as he started just five Super Lig games, registering only two assists, although he had previously flourished in Istanbul before that.
In 2024/25, for instance, Aydin registered ten goals and assists in Turkey’s top-flight, having been hailed as a “very intelligent” player by then-boss Jose Mourinho.
It was the year prior that Aydin truly sparkled, however, racking up 13 goals and eight assists in the Super Lig for Alanyaspor, while creating a mammoth tally of 19 ‘big chances’, while averaging 1.8 key passes and 1.5 successful dribbles per game.
Dribbling aside, that overall record betters what Ghedjemis achieved in Italy’s second division last season, with the latter man still yet to prove himself in a top European league.
There’s also the benefit that Aydin is primarily deployed on the left flank, ensuring McInnes could deploy the £6m man on one side, with Yokota in his favoured right wing berth.
Bringing Ghedjemis into the fold, particularly for a marquee fee, might almost immediately render Yokota as something of a spare part, with the woes of Gassama showcasing that the left flank needs addressing just as much as the right.
Aydin might well be the perfect solution then, with his record of 19 goals and assists in 71 games for Fenerbahce, alongside 43 in 95 for Antalyaspor, making for great reading. In Ghedjemis’ case, he has recorded 21 goal involvements in 66 games in Italy.
In an ideal world, perhaps Rangers would be able to bring both to Ibrox, yet if it is a case of one or the other, Aydin is seemingly the man to plump for.
