We should start by clarifying that, no, it’s not the one you’re thinking of. Rangers are not in the race to sign a former Barcelona forward currently plying his trade in the English Premier League.
But Rangers are, according to reports, interested in his namesake.
With Abdallah Sima and Fabio Silva facing uncertain futures – the former more likely than the latter to earn a permanent move to Ibrox cost-permitting – Philippe Clement‘s Scottish Premiership runners-up are in the market for widemen.
If he can play on either flank, is available for a knock-down fee, and capable of scoring goals at a pretty reliable rate, even better.
Rangers in for Ferencvaros forward Adama Traore
Adama Traore – the Ferencvaros forward rather than the Fulham one – is reportedly in Rangers’ sights, alongside Sturm Graz and, funnily enough, those aforementioned Cottagers.
Africa Foot reports that the 54-time Mali international could leave Ferencvaros after two years and two Hungarian league titles. Traore, who started out at French side Metz but really hit his stride at Sherif Tiraspol, is due to become a free-agent in 2025. As such, Ferencvaros have to sell this summer or risk losing him for nothing later down the line.
At 28, Traore is older than the players Rangers have tended to target during the early days of the Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen.
But while Oscar Cortes and Mohamed Diomande arrived as works in progress, Traore is more of a finished article. His experience, title-winning nous, versatility and his impressive track record in Europe will all appeal to a Rangers side looking to do a little better both at home and abroad in 2024/25.
Traore has scored 14 goals in 26 games for Ferencvaros this term. And while he has never played in the Champions League proper, he does have eight goals and three assists in 16 qualifying matches.
The jet-heeled Traore also allegedly has a top-speed of 34.14 km/h. For contrast, Kylian Mbappe was clocked at 35km/h last year.
Traore has pace and precision in the final third
“The return of Adama Traore is a huge weapon for us. He has a professional mentality,” Ferencvaros coach and former Inter Milan icon Dejan Stankovic told Magyar Nemzet after the forward’s recent return from injury.
“He is a fantastic player. Of course, (Traore is) extremely important to us.”
He will take some replacing, then, if indeed he does move on in the summer.
The right-wing spot has been an issue for Rangers for some time now too. Ross McCausland, while promising, remains young. Scott Wright, meanwhile, is maybe too inconsistent to be relied upon by a team with genuine title-ambitions, his brace against Dundee on Tuesday notwithstanding.
Wright, like Traore, is out of contract in 2025. He is the man most likely to make way should the Ferencvaros frontman arrive at Ibrox.
