Rangers make £8m Aston Villa star a transfer target as Unai Emery preference opens door to Ibrox move
The Aston Villa star is one star the Light Blues are looking to sign this summer transfer window.
Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a new right-back from Aston Villa as boss Derek McInnes seeks reinforcements.
The Light Blues have had a torrid start to the competitive season and a 2-1 loss in their Ibrox opener on Premiership business this season further underlined a need for further new players. Ross McCrorie has been signed as one possible right-back option with Dujon Sterling still at the club but Aston Villa man Kosta Nedeljkovic is said to be a loan possibility.
He signed from Red Star Belgrade two years ago but Villans boss Unai Emery is said to prefer Matty Cash and centre-back Ezri Konza as his options in wider defensive roles. That will open up Rangers to approach the Premier League side and Europa League holders over a deal after time spent in Germany at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Who do Rangers want to sign from Aston Villa this summer?
A report from the Herald states: “Rangers are weighing up a move to bring Kosta Nedeljkovic, the Aston Villa and Serbia right-back, to Ibrox on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old defender, who Villa paid Red Star Belgrade £8m for in 2024, is unlikely to feature for the Europa League winners in the 2026/27 season.
“He has spent the past two campaigns on loan at RB Leipzig in Germany – but he only made five appearances in the Bundesliga last term. Nedeljkovic started for his Premier League outfit in their pre-season friendly against Indonesia All-Stars in Jakarta earlier this month and provided an assist for the opening goal during a 3-1 win. However, his manager Unai Emery has preferred Polish internationalist Matty Cash and England centre-half Ezri Konsa in his specialist position in the past.”
McInnes said of the defeat to Hibs: “Disappointing result. We thought we were deserving of better. I didn't think we were brilliant, but I do think a lot of things transpired against us. I know people will say it's a lot worse than what it was, but the outcome isn't great and we get that, we accept that. But, in the cold light of day, if you analyse the game, we were the better team.
Derek McInnes on Rangers 1-2 Hibs
“I thought the last 25 minutes of the game, half hour of the game, it was far more how I wanted Rangers to play in terms of we engaged more strikers quicker, we had more balls in the box, we looked as if the equaliser was coming. It took a bit longer than I would have hoped because we passed up chance after chance.
“But we started to, I mean 76% possession, we started to actually utilise that possession and we were a wee bit more of a threat. We had plenty of box action. The only stat that really matters, as you know, is the scoreline. I actually thought the intent of the team was good. I've got to praise the players for their efforts to keep going. We are sitting here, bemoaning the fact that we've dropped a couple of points, losing the goal, even the nature of the goal that came off the studs and trickled by at Ivor Pandur, it's a blow for us.”