Rangers £7m Bid Rejected For 21-Year-Old Target: What Should They Do Now?

Rangers £7m Bid Rejected For 21-Year-Old Target: What Should They Do Now? Rangers’ second attempt to sign Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry has failed, with the Seagulls rejecting an offer worth around £7m, according to Fabrizio Romano . The report adds that several other clubs have registered interest, leaving talks open as the transfer window moves into another busy stage. Romano’s update gives Rangers a clear indication of Brighton ’s stance. The Scottish club have already tested the market with a second proposal, yet Brighton have chosen to hold firm despite the sizeable fee. That decision is important because the 21-year-old has returned from a productive loan at Bolton Wanderers, where his attacking output has pushed his stock higher. During 2025/26, Cozier-Duberry made 37 League One appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists, while he added a goal in the EFL Cup. Those numbers helped him earn League One Team of the Season recognition, and his form created genuine interest beyond Ibrox. T4O take: Why Rangers should resist another big bid Rangers need attacking quality, especially after Couhaib Driouech’s move collapsed and Youssef Chermiti suffered an ACL injury. Even so, paying more than £7.5m for a player whose senior breakthrough came in League One would leave little room for errors. Rangers have already made this their second-highest bid in more than two decades, so another jump would pose serious financial risk. BRADFORD, ENGLAND – MAY 14: Amario Cozier-Duberry of Bolton Wanderers looks on during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg match between Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers at University of Bradford Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Bradford, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) There is another issue. The club dropped into the Conference League play-offs after losing to Jagiellonia Białystok, which makes future European income less certain. Meanwhile, defensive gaps still need attention, and spending eight figures on one developing winger could weaken the wider squad. Rangers have a smarter route A season-long loan with an option to buy around £8.5m would make far more sense, particularly with performance-based additions and a 15% sell-on clause. That structure would let Rangers test the player at a higher level without committing the entire summer budget immediately. Brighton, however, can wait because competition has emerged from Championship, Belgian and Austrian clubs. Rangers should therefore keep their ceiling near the rejected figure. If Brighton demand a guaranteed sale above £9m or £10m, walking away would protect the budget needed for the title race, especially with Celtic still setting the domestic standard. That caution is significant because Rangers cannot afford to solve one attacking problem while creating a deeper squad problem elsewhere, or damaging their domestic title challenge against Celtic.