OPINION
Anyone who breaks the hearts of Celtic will always be welcomed with open arms at Rangers – but the Light Blues could do with making a Hoops nemesis one of their own this winter.
Both those at Ibrox and Parkhead have suffered ups and down throughout the current campaign, with the Bhoys’ disappointment and the Gers’ delight over their respective European campaigns resulting in them sitting at the same stage in the Europa League.
However it is Brendan Rodgers and his men who have the advantage in Scotland, with the Parkhead outfit looking at extending their astonishing run of league titles to eight in a row this season.
Rangers might have brought 15 new faces in over summer to try and close the gap but not all of them have worked out as planned, and none have looked as much of a blunder as the capture of Umar Sadiq on loan from Roma has.
The Nigerian hitman has managed to make just four appearances as he flops at Ibrox – and so fixing their mistake must be a priority come January.
With the Daily Record reporting that Steven Gerrard’s men were scouting AEK Athens’ clash against Panathanaikos over the weekend, there is one man who the Gers must target – and it is not a name Celtic will want to see again any time soon.
Step forward Marko Livaja, a 25-year-old striker with four caps for Croatia and four goals for AEK this season.
If Rangers fans do not recognise the name, their Glasgow rivals certainly will, for Livaja was the man who scored the second and decisive goal in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier between the Greek side and Celtic, condemning the Hoops to Europa League football.
A former hot prospect at Inter Milan, his career has stalled somewhat in recent years but would certainly offer more than Sadiq does at Rangers, and under Steven Gerrard he could be back to his best.
He would be warmly welcomed at Ibrox for his sinking of Celtic and that immediate confidence boost could reignite his performances out on the pitch, giving some serious competition to Kyle Lafferty and Alfredo Morelos.
Rangers made a blunder with Sadiq, but they can fix that with a raid for Livaja.