Rangers safe as Europa League rivals strike deal for £16m attacker

Rangers’ Europa League rivals AEL Limassol have announced the signing of Russian striker Aleksander Kokorin – but the deal comes too late for the player to play at Ibrox.

The Gers are readying a double-header against the Cypriot outfit after drawing AEL Limassol, Sparta Prague and Real Betis in the group stages of the Europa League.

But with the competition’s squads already submitted – and Rangers’ courting plenty of controversy – the AEL Limassol move for Aleksander Kokorin has come too late for the player to be registered.

Once the brightest talent in Russian football, Aleksander Kokorin has had quite the career and joins AEL Limassol on loan from Serie A side Fiorentina until the end of the season.

Rangers to avoid new AEL Limassol signing Aleksander Kokorin
Starting his career with Dynamo Moscow, once cash-rich Russian side Anzhi activated the striker’s €19m (£16m) release clause back in 2013.

Within a month, Aleksander Kokorin was back in the Russian capital and spent another three years with Dynamo before moving to Zenit St Petersburg.

After a spell in prison, stints on loan at Sochi and with Spartak Moscow would follow for the 45-times capped Russian attacker before the forward signed for Fiorentina in January 2021.

The last two and a half seasons have been a disappointment for Aleksander Kokorin in Italy and the bleached hair forward has now moved to AEL Limassol.

Whilst the stage is set for the striker to surely recapture his form in Cyprus, the fact AEL made the signing so late will prevent Aleksander Kokorin from playing against Rangers.

With Rangers set to kick off their Europa League campaign at home to Real Betis a week on Thursday (21/09), the clashes with AEL Limassol are set to take place in Cyprus on the 5th of October and in Scotland on the 30th of November.