Russell Martin appears set to extend his summer recruitment drive at Rangers with a move for Wolfsberger AC winger Thierno Ballo.
Having already brought in Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Thelo Aasgaard, the former Southampton boss is continuing his efforts to reshape the squad following a disappointing season.
Rangers are also nearing a deal for Sheffield Wednesday wide man Djeidi Gassama and could further bolster their attacking options with the potential addition of Ballo.
Rangers eye Ballo as interest builds across Europe
The Ibrox side are prioritizing attacking reinforcements after focusing heavily on defensive improvements earlier in the window.
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg (9 July), Rangers are among several clubs to have made enquiries about the Austrian international, with Mainz and Ajax also reportedly in the mix. Negotiations are said to be ongoing.
Ballo could thrive in Scottish football
With the departure of Vaclav Cerny—who returned to his parent club following the end of his loan—Rangers lost one of their most potent threats on the flank.
There’s also uncertainty surrounding the futures of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, making it essential for Martin to add more firepower if his team is to seriously challenge Celtic for the title.
Though naturally a left-winger, Ballo is versatile and can play through the middle or as a No. 10. His speed and attacking instincts would pose a real challenge to defenders in the Scottish Premiership.
The 22-year-old has registered 22 goals and nine assists in 59 appearances across the past two seasons in Austria—figures that could well improve in the Scottish top flight.
Rangers have had success tapping into undervalued markets in recent seasons, bringing in players like Igamane, Nicolas Raskin, and Mohamed Diomande, who have all impressed after arriving for modest fees.
Maintaining that recruitment strategy could be the key to closing the gap with Celtic, who finished a significant 17 points clear last season. Exploiting leagues like Austria’s could fast-track Rangers’ return to the top and ease the burden of rebuilding.
