Rangers manager Michael Beale tried to sign Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo in the summer. Now, he’s been handed his papers by the Glasgow giants and sent on his way.
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The departed boss was desperate to land Panzo during the summer transfer window. It was even suggested that he’d try and buy him rather than trying to take him on loan.
Now, Beale has departed Rangers after a horrible start to the 2023/24 campaign in which the Gers have already lost to Celtic. They sit third in the table behind St Mirren and are seven points behind their fierce rivals.
Beale sacked after trying to take Panzo from Forest
The youngster would surely have welcome the move this summer. Panzo is down the pecking order at Forest and playing regular football was something that he was keen to do.
Rangers were plotting a £1.5 million deal to try and snare Panzo from Forest. Although Steve Cooper is a huge fan of the defender, he wouldn’t have stood in his way.
In the end, Beale targeted other options instead. Rangers were unable to agree on a deal with Forest for Panzo and the player had to wait to move in the summer.
It will be intriguing to see who Rangers get in as their new manager next. Frank Lampard has been linked, whilst Birmingham City boss John Eustace is also of interest.
What happened to Panzo?
The central defender ended up joining Cardiff City on loan for the 2023/24 campaign. Although that’s by no means a bad move, he would have relished the move to Rangers.
The Gers are in the Europa League this season and those nights under the Ibrox lights would have been special. Now, he has to work hard to get himself in the team at Cardiff.
Still, for Panzo, the priority now is to play regular football. He managed to do that for a short period at Coventry and he will have likely forgotten all about the Rangers interest as he focuses on the future.
