Ibrox View: Rangers could do worse than beg the question over the future of loan star

Since returning from AFCON, Nasser Djiga’s performances for Rangers have looked much improved, giving the 49ers a decision to make in the summer.

The centre-back was one of the more composed and confident players at Ibrox as the Gers failed to capitalise on a lacklustre Celtic display.

Recently, the Wolves loanee has found himself on the periphery of the starting lineup with John Souttar ahead of him in the pecking order.

Djiga will leave Rangers at the end of the season, with his loan deal having no option to make the move permanent.

However, Andrew Cavenagh could go back to the negotiating table ahead of the summer transfer window.

What Rangers should do with Nasser Djiga in the summer

Rangers will need to sign a centre-back in the summer with Djiga set to return to his parent club. However, the 49ers would do no worse than look to bring him back.

Early performances from the 23-year-old in the season were shaky, littered with plenty of mistakes and a real lack of confidence.

Since returning from AFCON, it has been the opposite, and he has begun to show his true qualities for the Glasgow club.

The G51 outfit could go back to the Wanderers and seek an extended loan deal for the defender to stay ahead of next season.

It would solve an issue that will present itself next summer and provide Danny Rohl with a player that already understands what is expected of him.

Djiga is pushing to become a Rangers regular again, and if he continues playing at his current level, then that question must simply be asked of Wolves.

The issues that could prevent Djiga’s Rangers stint becoming longer

Wolves are more or less guaranteed to drop down to the Championship in England this season, and the Old Gold may look to put Djiga back into the mix and give him minutes at Molineux.

They may see the option of sending him out on loan as futile, with that opportunity on the table for the Burkinabe.

When it comes to potentially signing Djiga on a permanent basis, that also looks unlikely.

• Nasser Djiga has made 16 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers with 14 starts
• Djiga has kept six clean sheets for Rangers in the league this season

The Premier League side originally paid £10million for the centre-back in January 2025. After just 18 months, they would likely look to recoup a fee close to that.

In Rangers’ top 25 most expensive arrivals, only seven have come in the 2020s. Those deals have cost anywhere between £4m and £7.4m.

The finances are unlikely to be there to bring Djiga back permanently, but the Ibrox club will not know whether or not another loan deal is possible unless they ask the question.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.