Rangers look set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Scotland defender Scott McKenna as Dinamo Zagreb demands reportedly put the deal on ice. The 29-year-old centre-back has been playing his football for Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb since the summer of 2025. With Rangers currently sitting 4th in the Premiership, 2 points behind leaders ST Mirren, the need to continue upgrading at the back was shown on Friday night, as Gers were only able to salvage a 1-1 draw against Dundee United in their 2026-27 Scottish Premiership opener. However, if another central defender is to make a move to Govan this summer, it doesn't appear likely to be the 51-cap Scotland international.
Why Scott McKenna is "highly unlikely" to sign for Rangers
Ibrox News has been looking back on how highly Derek McInnes rated McKenna during their time together at Aberdeen amid talk of a potential transfer reunion, possibly as a replacement for John Souttar. However, if McKenna is to return to Scottish football this summer, Ibrox doesn't appear to be his expected destination. Writing on his X account, the Scottish Sun's chief football writer Robert Grieve has claimed that Rangers are "highly unlikely" to sign McKenna. Grieve claims that Rangers had tabled a loan enquiry earlier this summer, but the terms being demanded by Dinamo Zagreb put any deal on ice straight away.
What's next for Rangers in the transfer market?
With alternative options now being looked at, it's clear that Rangers will need to be patient in their pursuit of a new central defender. The club's current league standing of 4th in the Premiership, 2 points behind leaders ST Mirren, means that they will need to continue upgrading their squad in order to compete for the title. With their next fixture against Kilmarnock on December 26th, Rangers will need to be at their best if they are to pick up all three points.
What's the latest on Scott McKenna's contract situation?
Having started all 30 of his Croatian top-flight games last season, as well as scoring twice and providing three assists, McKenna is a big player for Dinamo Zagreb. In total, he turned out 42 times in all competitions in 2025-26, helping the team on their way to their 26th Croatian league title. Upon joining them in the summer of 2025, McKenna also inked a long-term deal in Zagreb, with him contracted there through to the summer of 2029. Therefore, they will surely be in absolutely no hurry to commission an exit for him unless it's a fantastic deal for Dinamo, and thus it's no surprise to learn their demands to Rangers were reportedly very steep.
