- Rangers are targeting Dundee defender Luke Graham, with initial talks progressing and a summer deal increasingly likely.
- Defensive reinforcements are a priority amid expected departures, loans ending, and inconsistent performances at the back.
- Graham’s passing range, aerial dominance, and profile fit Danny Rohl’s tactical system and long-term vision.
Rangers are preparing a summer swoop for Dundee defender Luke Graham, with sources suggesting terms with the centre-half have already been agreed.
It was rumoured last week that Danny Rohl’s side had upped their pursuit of the 22-year-old.
Following his standout display in the Dees defeat to Celtic, in which he received the in-stadium man-of-the-match award, Rangers seem set in their summer defensive choice.
With Nasser Djiga and the out-of-favour Derek Cornelius set to return to their loan clubs, Emmanuel Fernandez linked with a big-money departure and John Souttar out of form, defence will be a key area for this summer’s recruitment.
Recent Luke Graham reports
Sources have also told Read Rangers that initial talks have been positive, with a deal looking likely, should the two clubs agree on a fee.
Danny Rohl refuses to comment
German coach Rohl refused to speak specifically about the player when asked prior to Saturday’s home win over Dundee United.
“In general, I don’t speak about names,” he said when asked about Graham directly.
“We have regular meetings every week, to sit together and watch players with different profiles.
“I think this is a good thing now. In January, we had a good window, but it was still in the beginning.
“Now we have the experience from January, we know what we need in the summer. There are also a lot of things to prepare. Players are in the World Cup, we have loan players, they come back, we have players to prepare, we have maybe an early qualifying game, maybe not, it depends on us.
“There are a lot of things to prepare, but we are clear on what we want. I think it’s more clear in which direction I want to play football, and it helps to clarify the right players, for the style of direction, and I think this is also great.
“At the moment, we work not just for the daily business, now and for the summer. We also look at what the identity should be for the whole club in the future.
“We want to play football, and it’s very enjoyable to be part of this.”
Rohl has previously confirmed, however, that transfer strategy for the summer recruitment had already begun.
Read Rangers analysis
A championship title winner last term with John McGlynn’s Falkirk, Graham has a winning mentality that would translate into a Rangers player.
In a Danny Rohl system, defenders need to be more than stoppers; they need to be able to play out from the back.
He’s made over 1000 successful passes this season and nearly 100 successful long balls.
Graham has proven this season that he can switch up his play, both keeping it safe, and spraying long diagonal passes, akin to Connor Goldson, who excelled in that trait during his spell at Ibrox.
Left-footed centre-backs are a rare commodity, and with Cornelius set to depart, Rangers need cover for Fernandez.
Standing at 6 foot 4, Graham is a powerhouse in the air and will likely only get better as he matures, traits Rohl has identified in his January signings.
He wins 70% of his aerial duels in the Premiership this season, a vital ingredient in the ever-physical Premiership.
Dundee would be looking for a seven-figure fee for Graham.
Steven Pressley’s side are likely to drive a hard bargain after being forced to wait for their development fee following Rangers capture of Lyall Cameron last summer.
