Rangers have had a £7.5 million bid for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Amario Cozier-Duberry rebuffed, as the Scottish Premiership club continue their search for reinforcements following a difficult start to the season.
The proposed fee would have ranked as one of the largest outgoing transfers in Rangers' history over the past two decades, second only to the £8 million paid for striker Youssef Chermiti last summer. Only Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo, both signed in the early 2000s, commanded higher fees for the Ibrox club.
Cozier-Duberry, 21, impressed while on loan at Bolton Wanderers last season, contributing eight goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances as the Trotters secured promotion via the League One play-offs. His performances earned him a spot in the League One Team of the Season and clearly caught the attention of suitors north of the border.
Despite the interest from Rangers, Brighton have shown no willingness to sell. The young winger has less than two years remaining on his current deal at the Amex Stadium but has been a regular fixture in Fabian Hurzeler's pre-season plans this summer. He was named among the substitutes, though not used, during Brighton's 1-0 victory over Bologna at home on Saturday.
While a permanent move to Rangers appears unlikely for now, Cozier-Duberry remains a target for several Championship clubs eyeing a possible loan arrangement, suggesting his immediate future may still lie in England rather than Scotland.
Rangers' pursuit of the player comes amid a turbulent period for the club. New manager Derek McInnes, who arrived from Hearts over the summer, oversaw a run of four winless matches before snapping the streak with a comfortable 5-1 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. However, European disappointment has compounded the club's troubles, with Rangers eliminated from the Europa League after a two-legged defeat to Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok, dropping them into the Conference League play-off round instead.
Speaking after the exit to the Polish outfit, McInnes was candid about the scale of the rebuilding job ahead, acknowledging that his squad requires additional quality to compete on multiple fronts this season.
"Strengthening defensively, strengthening in wide areas was a priority," McInnes said. "But obviously losing a player of Youssef's ability [to an ACL injury], we need to look at that one as well."
The manager's comments underline the club's stated priorities in the transfer market, with full-backs and attacking players understood to be at the top of Rangers' shopping list as they look to bolster a squad already weakened by Chermiti's serious knee injury.
Whether Rangers will return with an improved offer for Cozier-Duberry remains to be seen, but Brighton's firm stance suggests any deal, permanent or otherwise, would require significant negotiation. For now, the Seagulls appear content to retain the winger as part of their pre-season plans under Hurzeler, even as他 continues to draw interest from clubs across two divisions and two countries.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.