Rangers face competition for striker as Fenerbahce enter race

Rangers will have to fend off competition for Croatian striker Mirko Maric, with Turkish giants Fenerbahce sniffing around the NK Osijek hitman.

The 23-year-old, contracted at Osijek until summer 2022, has netted 18 goals and laid on seven assists, and the twice-capped international had already been linked with the Light Blues.

Reportedly priced at £3 million, he would likely be a replacement for Kyle Lafferty, who returned to Ibrox last summer after a spell at Hearts but has struggled to make an impact.

Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos and on-loan Bournemouth forward Jermain Defoe have led the line for the Gers this season, with the Northern Ireland international making 30 appearances, mostly from the bench.

Mirko Maric (centre) in action for Croatia against Chile. Picture: Getty Images

However, Maric’s performances appear to have now caught the attention of Fener, who need a big summer of change after a dismal campaign that saw them narrowly avoid dropping out of the SuperLig.

Turkish publication Askam claims Fenerbahce scouts have been watching Maric for some time, and that work on transfers for the 2019/20 season “have accelerated”.