JUST IN: Rangers Enter the Race for Crystal Palace Winger
Rangers are reportedly targeting 22-year-old Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak‑Sakyi this summer as part of manager Russell Martin’s ambitious recruitment push. Back at Selhurst Park following an accomplished loan at Sheffield United, Rak‑Sakyi has caught the eye of the Light Blues as they look to reinforce their attacking options.
Rapid rise through the ranks
A product of Chelsea’s youth setup until 2019, Rak‑Sakyi joined Palace and swiftly progressed through the academy. In 2022–23, he made an immediate impact on loan at Charlton Athletic, scoring 15 goals in 43 league appearances before being named the club’s Supporters’ Player of the Year.
That performance convinced Palace to loan him again to Sheffield United for the 2024–25 Championship season, where he added seven goals in 35 matches .
His overall senior experience is limited: eight first-team appearances for Palace, a few Cup outings, and several loan spells. Yet his potential is undeniable. Premier League 2 statistics reveal a record of 20 goals and 15 assists across age groups, highlighting his creativity and end product from wide positions.
Rangers’ recruitment strategy
With winger Vaclav Cerny departing, Martin has prioritized wide attacking reinforcements. To date, he’s secured Max Aarons, Lyall Cameron, Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, and Thelo Aasgaard. Negotiations are also underway for Wolves’ Nasser Djiga and Leicester’s Conor Coady.
Palace have reportedly valued Rak‑Sakyi at around £10 million. Rangers, however, may pursue a more cautious approach: exploring either a loan deal, potentially with an option to buy, or negotiating a reduced fee for a permanent transfer.
Fitting the Ibrox mold
Martin has emphasized the importance of character alongside talent, especially given the club’s early European commitments. “We have to go after the ones we really want … character first then talent after,” he said ([reddit.com][5]). With Rak‑Sakyi known for his humility, work ethic, and technical flair, he ticks several of the required boxes.
He has also drawn praise from fans and pundits alike. A Reddit thread about his Sheffield United spell described him as “great fun to watch,” noting his ability to beat players consistently, though fans noted he can sometimes be muscled off the ball and “go down a bit easy”.
Next steps and broader context
Rangers are likely to make their move before the European qualifier window closes. Palace may be willing to loan him out again if first-team opportunities are limited. Other clubs—Leeds, Southampton, Burnley, Sheffield United, QPR, Lyon, and Anderlecht—have been mentioned as potential suitors.
For Rak‑Sakyi, the opportunity to play regular first-team football in a competitive Scottish Premiership and European setting could be a vital stepping stone in his career.