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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

The Rangers transfer flurry that stands in stark contrast to the rest of Europe

It's the transfer window, but not as we know it.

Usually, come this time of year, the airwaves are consumed by who's signing who and the various games of cat and mouse that keep fans glued to their screens until the actual football returns.

But in a world that very few of us currently recognise, the three months of excess and hubris we all know and accept was never quite going to look the same.

Some nations have yet to even conclude their domestic seasons, never mind completing signings for next.

The SPFL is in no such position yet it's still been somewhat of a surprise to see Rangers make not one, but two early moves in the market.

Ianis Hagi 's arrival was not unexpected but the Saturday evening announcement that Calvin Bassey had joined from Leicester caught most off-guard.

It makes Steven Gerrard 's side the only club in the UK to announce two transfers so far this summer.

And, technically, they've signed three.

Jermain Defoe signed a pre-contract in January and will officially become a Rangers player when the window opens.

Monday morning has brought yet more news, with Record Sport exclusively revealing Leicester's Dennis Gyamfi is a target, while there's claims Liverpool prospect Rhian Brewster could arrive on-loan.

(PA)

It's early days, of course, but the flurry of activity is in stark contrast to what's taken place elsewhere.

There have been no other new transfers in Scotland since the season was concluded, although there are pre-contract deals set to go through when the window opens.

Alan Forrest will join Livingston and Shaun Rooney will sign for St Johnstone.

According to transfermarkt.com, only nine deals have been registered so far in England, some of which were agreed some time ago - such as Hakim Ziyech's move from Ajax to Chelsea.

Of course, transfer business in England will likely pick up when the small matter of finishing the season is dealt with.

On the continent, things are equally as quiet.

One of the few new deals completed - as in, not agreed in previous months - involved former Celtic midfielder Eboue Kouassi and his move to Genk.

In stark contrast to a regular first week in June, clubs appear to be taking stock of a much-changed financial landscape and many of the quick-fire deals announced at this stage of the summer are nowhere to be seen.

Whether this sets a tone for the rest of the summer remains to be seen but we can already see how the coronavirus pandemic may stop football's three months of excess in its tracks.

Even European champions and Premier League winners-in-waiting Liverpool aren't above it.

Boss Jurgen Klopp admitted the apparent end of the club's pursuit of Timo Werner is due to finances, allowing Chelsea to muscle in.

Big spending has never been a feature of the Scottish football summer and it's not as though Rangers are throwing heaps of cash around.

The Hagi transfer incorporates a long-term payment plan and only a training compensation fee was due to Leicester for Bassey. The same would likely apply for Gyamfi if he too heads for Ibrox.

Whether this steady stream of activity continues throughout the summer is a different story but it appears Rangers are determined to get their business done early.

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