Frank Lampard's encouraging verdict on Rangers transfer target emerges amid 'significant' interest

There is major interest building around Europe - and one Rangers target would come with positive words from Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea and England legend has guided Coventry City back to the Premier League and one player he signed in the January transfer window to help him in that mission was Jahnoah Markelo. He was signed for an undisclosed fee from Swiss Super League side FC Zurich on a long-term deal but minutes at England’s top table are to be limited and loan options are available to him.

Rangers are one of the options as boss Derek McInnes seeks wide reinforcements and it’s been reported there is ‘significant interest from around Europe in the player.’ Lampard spoke in March of how Markelo had adapted to life in the UK, and while there was much to learn, the former midfielder was impressed by how he’d applied himself.

What has Frank Lampard said about Rangers transfer target?

Lampard said: “He’s got talent. He’s come in and shown his talent on the training pitch. It’s not easy to come from a different league that’s not at the level of our league, in honesty, and he’s coming with a confidence about him. You can see it. Does he need to adapt a little bit to the speed of the game here and that?

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he does but he’s been impressive how he’s come in I thought we did really well. He’s trained really well and he needs to adapt to the league. I know that, I think he knows that but he’s a confident lad. He came on in a different type of game where you could see his attacking attributes, and we’ve seen that in training. So he’s really good and we’re happy.

“It’s early days for him because he’s just come here but he’s settled in, been good on the training ground and needs to learn probably about what it’s like to play football in the Championship in terms of how you have to try and prepare and all those things.”

What has Derek McInnes said about Rangers transfer business?

Speaking on possible business before this Friday’s Premiership opener at Dundee United after Sunday’s friendly against West Ham United, McInnes said: "We are quite hopeful we've got one done at the minute and hopefully we'll have some news on that in the next 48 hours and we're also trying to maybe bring one more in if we can for Friday night. I would really like that to be the case because I do think it one or two areas of the pitch we're still a bit short.

“One will be permanent, one might be a loan, but we would like two permanent. I think a club like ours needs to have those guys who can isolate and go one v one and can play off both sides. So we are looking for a bit more creativity that can serve the strikers. I think we've got strikers in Nadiri, Chermiti, Shankland and Miovski who can all finish off chances. Maybe only Chermiti is capable of creating an opportunity for himself. But Ryan, Lawrence and Bojan are very much dependent on service."