Rangers told to proceed with transfer caution over ace as pundit claims 'he’s not the player I thought he was'
A member of Steven Gerrard’s 2021 title-winning squad has been hugely unimpressed by the Danish international contribution so far
A former Rangers winger insists Rangers marquee January signing Andreas Skov Olsen has six games to “dig out a bit of magic” or see his hopes of joining the club on a permanent basis fizzle out.
The mid-season capture of the Danish international on an initial six-month loan deal from Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg was hailed as a major coup by supporters and pundits alike after it was revealed the Ibrox club has negotiated an option to trigger a £8m option-to-buy the wide man permanently this summer.
However, the 26-year-old has contributed just four goals in 10 appearances so far and has yet to hit the heights many expected to justify such a significant outlay. Skov Olsen’s lack of impact has left a member of Steven Gerrard’s 2021 title-winning squad completely bewildered.
“He’s not the player I thought he was,” conceded former Gers, Aberdeen and Birmingham City wide man Greg Stewart. “I’m trying to think what he actually brings to the table. When a winger comes in for that price, he must have a trick, he must be quick, he must get after people or make those unselfish runs in behind to create space for someone else, or offer a threat with his set-pieces.
Stewart: ‘I’m struggling to think what he brings’
“But I’m struggling to think what he brings. I know he’s had a couple of assists but for that sort of money you are expecting a game-changer, really. I thought every time he got the ball on Saturday he passed it backwards. And it’s not even like he would play it backwards then run in behind or a return pass.
“It’s really strange because I was really optimistic when we got him. I thought, ‘phew, he could be the one who gets us over the line.’ But it’s been such underwhelming performances from him. It looks like there’s a real lack of confidence from him, which I just can’t understand.
“He’s playing in a team that’s not lost since December. And the manager is showing a bit of trust in him as well. When he’s played bad, he’s been allowed to play again. I wish I had that under Stevie G!
“I’d play well and still be dropped. When I saw a player like him being linked to Rangers, I thought, ‘Here we go!. He could be the game changer we need’. Because we have struggled on the right hand side since Vaclav Cerny left. I was desperate to sign him, I don’t know why we didn’t because that was a no brainer for me.
“But yeah, with Skov Olsen I’m struggling to see it. With six games left, there’s still time and hopefully he can dig out a bit of magic rom somewhere because he must have something when you look at the teams he’s played for and the fact he has 40 caps for Denmark.”
Disinterested Skov Olsen accused of ‘hiding’
His comments follow that of former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson, who accused ex-Club Brugge star Skov Olsen of hiding in last weekend’s 4-2 Premiership win over Dundee United.
Speaking live on BBC Sportsound, he said: “I think Danny Rohl has got to make changes. Clearly, there’s one or two positions where it’s not working, i.e. in the wide area. Skov Olsen has been poor again, he’s done absolutely nothing.
“He doesn’t want the ball. He’s not interested in receiving that ball one bit. I hate to see it, it looks like he’s hiding.”
It remains to be seen whether Rangers will sanction a big-money deal for a player struggling to recapture the type of form that earned him a £12m switch to Germany last year.