£9m price tag tests Rangers’ pursuit of Claudio Braga amid fierce competition from abroad as Hearts demand a massive fee and Premier League clubs watch

Rangers Now Linked with a £9m target as Derek McInnes seeks to overhaul the Rangers’ attack, eyeing Portuguese forward Claudio Braga to replace the departing goal threat and rekindle the partnership that once flourished with Lawrence Shankland at Ibrox.

Braga lit up the Scottish Premiership with Hearts, and the Edinburgh club wants a massive fee somewhere between £8m and £10m. They bought him from Aalesunds for just £430,000 last summer, meaning a historic profit is on the table – a sum that would eclipse the £9m Sunderland paid for Craig Gordon in 2007. The Heart side therefore holds all the cards.

Major Portuguese outlet Jogo broke the news on 10 July, confirming that Trabzonspor, Olympique Lyon and newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town are also in the hunt. They should go after this deal quickly, because the competition from abroad is fierce and the price tag is escalating. The interest from the Premier League and the involvement of clubs with deeper pockets make the race especially crowded.

In the Scottish Premiership Braga delivered a sensational year, playing 38 league matches, scoring 14 goals and providing three assists – a rate of 0.43 goals per 90 minutes. His underlying stats placed him in the top 2% for non‑penalty expected‑goals output, and across all competitions he tallied 17 goals and six assists from 44 games, earning the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award.

Rangers already have Lawrence Shankland at Ibrox, and the idea of pairing him with his former teammate is incredibly tempting. They were lethal together at Hearts, and this forward could restore that potency for the Glasgow side.

The money is a massive hurdle for Rangers’ board. A £9m valuation means they might simply not be able to match the asking price, especially when Premier League money is on the table. Should the club stretch its budget, the financial risk could be significant.

Hearts’ business model relies on selling stars at the right time, and they are already preparing for life without their key Heart. They expect a historic profit and are unlikely to let the player leave for less than their target.

Rangers seem to be pivoting already, with attention turning toward midfield target Jens Hjerto‑Dahl as a more achievable Transfer option. This long‑term signing could be secured without the £9m outlay required for Braga.

The big question remains: should Rangers go after this deal, or will the £9m price tag and competition force them to look elsewhere? They must decide quickly if they are to secure the forward before the market closes.