Rangers chairman Dave King will surely be thrilled to know that Maritimo are now reportedly demanding a much lower transfer fee for Josip Vukovic.

According to a report by Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, the Light Blues remain interested in signing the 26-year-old, who now could be available for just £780,000 in the summer transfer window.

CAN RANGERS NOW AFFORD VUKOVIC?

Vukovic has played well for Maritimo this season, especially since the start of 2019, so it is no surprise to see clubs being linked with the defensive midfielder. Calcio Mercato’s report says that Aston Villa and Lazio are interested in signing the Croatian enforcer while a previous report by talkSPORT claimed that Chelsea, Leicester, Watford, Wolves and Benfica have also been keeping tabs on him. Interestingly talkSPORT said that Maritimo value Vukovic at £4million, but this latest update from Italy reports that the Croat could be up for grabs in the summer for just £780,000. That means Vukovic’s value has been slashed by an incredible 80 per cent, which might be down to the fact that Maritimo are not the wealthiest of team in Portugal. It is good news for Rangers after all because £4million was a bit out of their ballpark. If Maritimo want just £780,000 for the Gers target, then Steven Gerrard and Mark Allen will have a much easier job of convincing King to cough up the dough.

IS HE WORTH THE MONEY?

Rangers cannot go wrong if they sign Vukovic for less than £1million. Pedro Caixinha paid over the odds for players like Carlos Pena, so this is peanuts for Vukovic, who seems like a very good player. Lazio, Chelsea, Wolves and Benfica are the kind of teams that you want to be competing with in the transfer market. Vukovic has reportedly been on all their radars, so the Croatian ace should be a solid addition at Ibrox in the summer if a deal can be completed.

INTERESTING FACT

Tore Andre Flo’s £12million switch from Chelsea to Rangers in November 2000 remains the most expensive signing in Scottish football history.