Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has backed the club to sign free agent Vaclav Hladky in the coming transfer window, per Football Insider.
Hladky has rejected the offer of a new contract at St Mirren and has subsequently become a free agent, per the club's official Twitter account.
Rangers have allowed both Wes Foderingham and Jak Alnwick to depart Ibrox and, as a result, there is a slot open for a new goalkeeper in manager Steven Gerrard's squad.
And Hutton, who played for the club between 2002 and 2008, believes that a move for the former Czech Republic U19 stopper is something of a no-brainer for the Gers.
Indeed, Hladky made 38 appearances for St Mirren in all competitions prior to the suspension of football in Europe due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, per Transfermarkt, keeping 14 clean sheets.
Hutton said: “I’m actually a big admirer of Hladky, I think he’s done unbelievably well at St Mirren, any time I’ve seen them he’s been one of their standout players.
“If you look at the lower teams, the keeper is a massive part of what they do and how they get points up on the board. He’s been an unbelievable player for them for the last little while so it doesn’t surprise me Rangers have been sniffing around him.
“Especially a free agent, it ticks the box if they’re spending a lot of money on (Ianis) Hagi and they can get a player they need for the squad on a free, it’s the ideal situation for them. I think he’d be a great addition to the squad.”
GIVEMESPORT'S Harry Sherlock says...
This would make sense.
Allan McGregor is clearly Rangers' current No.1, making 48 appearances in all competitions this term, but he is 38 and is surely reaching the twilight of his career.
Bringing in a player like the 29-year-old Hladky works on two levels, then; he is young for a goalkeeper and would be able to support McGregor, while he also has experience of the Scottish top-flight.
That he is available makes this something of a win-win for Rangers; there is no transfer fee involved, and they merely need to make the player himself a good enough offer to convince him to make the switch to Ibrox.
They had better get started.