- Rangers will not pursue permanent deal for Wolves defender Nasser Djiga this summer.
- Djiga’s promising revival under Danny Rohl collapsed during poor end to Premiership campaign.
- Rangers now expected to target alternative centre-back options including Dundee defender Luke Graham.
Rangers will not pursue a permanent move for Nasser Djiga this summer, bringing an inconsistent and complicated loan spell at Ibrox to an end.
Reports from the Express & Star in England suggest Rangers have now cooled any interest in extending the Wolves defender’s stay following a turbulent finish to the campaign.
This decision comes despite internal discussions earlier in the season over the possibility of another loan arrangement or failing that, a permanent transfer.
Nasser Djiga catches Gers eye initially
For a period, such a move looked likely.
Djiga had initially re-established himself under Danny Rohl after falling out of favour during the final weeks of Russell Martin’s tenure.
The Burkina Faso international formed a promising partnership alongside Manny Fernandez as Rangers briefly rediscovered defensive stability during the spring.
A 1-0 victory away to St Mirren appeared to underline that progress.
That afternoon in Paisley saw Rangers record their first Premiership clean sheet in six matches, with Djiga and Fernandez again trusted together at centre-back after also impressing during the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Celtic.
Rohl was openly complimentary of the defender’s profile following his display.
“I have great centre-backs available at the moment,” the German head coach said.
“I think everyone is ready. For me, Nasser played an outstanding game. Both of them were strong.
“They won every one-on-one duel. We could play a high line because they are very quick and also calm on the ball.”
For a time, Djiga looked ideally suited to Rohl’s tactical demands. His recovery pace, willingness to defend aggressively in space and comfort stepping into possession aligned naturally with a system built around a high defensive line.
Nasser Djiga Ibrox form derails
Wolves had spent close to £10 million signing Djiga only a year earlier, but uncertainty surrounding their Premier League future raised the prospect of squad trimming and a potentially reduced valuation.
At that time the idea of securing a 23-year-old defender with clear physical upside inevitably carried appeal.
However, the momentum behind that possibility quickly unravelled.
Following the St Mirren victory, Rangers failed to keep a single clean sheet across their remaining eight Premiership fixtures, conceding 18 goals during that stretch with Djiga regularly involved at the heart of the defence.
His display in a damaging 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle proved particularly problematic.
Djiga looked nervy throughout the second half, but it was his actions after full-time that generated the strongest reaction from supporters and pundits alike.
The defender was seen laughing and embracing Hearts striker and international teammate Landry Kabore following a defeat which effectively extinguished Rangers’ already fading title hopes.
Kris Boyd critical of Burkinabe defender
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd questioned both the optics and mentality surrounding the incident.
“It was Nasser Djiga – I get it,” he said.
“You might have friends on the Hearts team but you’re standing there after the game talking when you know that’s the title over and you’re best mates with the opposition players.
“I’m sorry, as I said fans will be the ones hurting and then they’ll be angry and rightly so because they’ve seen their team blow up again.
“But I would question the players as well, does it really mean that much to them? I’m not so sure. I’m not so sure.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Derek Cornelius has departed after the expiration of his loan spell, publicly accusing Rohl of “disrespecting” him during his short time at Ibrox.
Leon King has now also left permanently, leaving John Souttar and Fernandez as the only senior central defenders currently established within the squad.
Despite that shortage, Rangers are expected to look elsewhere rather than revisit negotiations for Djiga.
Dundee defender Luke Graham has emerged as a strong target as recruitment staff reshape the back line ahead of next season.
The Dees centre half also fits Gers’ charman Andrew Cavenagh’s “pro-Scottish” transfer bias.
For Djiga, the outcome reflects a loan spell that never fully settled into certainty.
There were flashes of why Rangers initially believed he could become a long-term option, particularly under Rohl’s more aggressive defensive structure, but inconsistency, results and perception ultimately shifted the narrative.
By the end, both player and club appeared to move beyond the possibility of making the arrangement permanent.
