Jhon Arias appears to have moved out of Rangers’ price range, with Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense turning down a £10.5 million bid from Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.
In reality, the chances of Jhon Arias joining Ibrox during the January transfer window were always slim. That is the harsh reality of a Scottish club, even one as historic and well-supported as Rangers.
The Glasgow giants have a budget that most Premiership clubs can only dream of. However, Philippe Clement’s financial firepower pales in comparison to clubs south of the border and across the continent.
Arias has been scouted by the Rangers. However, according to TEAMtalk, a number of Premier League clubs have done the same. Among them are West Ham United, Wolves, and Crystal Palace. Leeds United and Leicester City, both in the second tier, have the funds to blow Rangers out of the water.
Meanwhile, Zenit St Petersburg’s £10.5 million bid was rejected by South America’s newly crowned champions. The Russian giants failed with a bid that was more than Rangers had ever paid for a player in their 151-year history (Globo Esporte).
Jhon Arias of Fluminense is too expensive for the Rangers.
When Gol Caracol questioned Arias’ agent, Alex Viveros, he refused to discuss the Zenit connections. Arias’ reputation grew even more after helping Fluminense defeat Boca Juniors and win the Copa Libertadores for the first time.
“Jhon is a focused, dedicated, and composed player.” He also has the support of my partner Gianfranco, who has been a huge help to him in Brazil. “We closely follow the relevant aspects of his career together,” Viveros explains.
