'No disrespect' to Rangers - Swansea City star's transfer link to Ibrox questioned | OneFootball

FLW's Swansea fan pundit doesn't see a move to the Scottish giants as a stepping stone for Zan Vipotnik

Swansea City have yet another likely Championship Golden Boot winner in the ranks once more, as Zan Vipotnik leads the race with a little under two months remaining of the campaign.

With the Slovenian striker just 23 years of age, and the fact that his 16 goals have come from just 26 shots on target, per Fotmob, sides are understandably seeing a lot of upside and potential for this ruthless finisher.

Plus, with the Swans gearing up for this current campaign to peter out into a mid-table finish, they're possibly looking to maximise the amount of money they can bring in for Vipotnik, with reports stating that the Welsh side are searching for £15 million for his services, as he heads into the final two years of his deal this coming summer.

Rangers are reportedly in for the 23-year-old, and it's said that their ability to offer European football puts them ahead of lower-level Premier League sides, such as Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, in a bidding war.

However, with the quality of the traditional Scottish giants decreasing somewhat this season, and Hearts looking the likeliest to finish atop the SPL table ahead of the league split, FLW's Swansea fan pundit, Will Hughes, has questioned whether a move to Rangers would be the correct step-up for the Slovenian frontman.

Swansea City fan pundit questions Rangers links for Zan Vipotnik

Football League World questioned Hughes on whether he feels that a switch from South Wales to Glasgow would resemble a good stepping stone in the 23-year-old's career, and whether he felt that Rangers would be able to afford him.

"With regards to the financial side of things, the truth would be that I don't know," he said. "You don't really see Scottish sides throw that sort of money about regularly, and the rumoured fee for Vipotnik is £15 million.

"Whether they have the finances to pay that sort of money, I honestly can't say. If we got £10-15 million for him, I'd say it's a good bit of business from our side."

Youssef Chermiti, the man who stole the show in the most recent Old Firm derby with a stunning bicycle kick goal, moved to Rangers from Everton for £10 million this past summer.

However, this was the most the Glaswegians have paid for a player since Tore Andre Flo in 2000, who, at £12 million, is the most expensive signing in SPL history. So, to meet Swansea's demands, they'd have to shatter the league record, which may be unlikely.

Even if they could afford to bring Vipotnik in, though, the Swansea fan pundit doesn't think that a move to the Scottish Premiership, and to a side that has won just one league title since their return in 2016, would be a step forward in his career, if he had aspirations towards playing for one of the top five leagues in Europe.

"I mean no disrespect here, but when you go to Scotland, it's one of Celtic or Rangers, but nine times out of ten, Celtic have been champions. That may change this year with Hearts, but that's always how it has been since I started following football," Hughes explained.

"So, if Vipotnik went to Rangers, he'd score goals, as it's a league that, overall, is similar to the Championship. Also, if he went there, he'd likely get a stint in Europe and maybe win a cup, so it all depends on what his aspirations are.

"If he really wants to push on, I wouldn't have thought that going to Rangers would be the best move, especially if it comes out that other clubs in Serie A or the Premier League are sniffing about. You'd think, as a footballer, you wouldn't want to go there [to Rangers].

"Don't get me wrong, Celtic and Rangers are two of the biggest clubs in the UK, but I wouldn't say it's the best stepping stone if he intends to go to a club and then use that to go somewhere else. But we'll wait and see what happens."

Swansea City fan pundit hopes that club cashes in on Zan Vipotnik this summer

With Vipotnik out of contract at the end of the 2027/28 campaign, this summer arguably presents the best chance to maximise their profits for him, especially if he ends the season as the Championship's top scorer.

Consequently, Hughes hopes that Swansea cashes in this summer, and, as in a previous interview with FLW, implores his club not to replicate the mistakes made with the likes of Michael Obafemi, Nathan Wood, and even Joel Piroe.

"I think he definitely should go this summer. He's going to be in the third year of his contract, and after next season, if he stays, there's no way we'd get £15 million for him if we tried to sell again, he said.

"No one would spend that much money on someone in the final year of their contract. We've done it with Obafemi, Wood, and even Piroe. We've held off and sold for a fraction of what we could have.

"Piroe, we did let go for a substantial figure there, but there were other clauses surrounding it, and I do think that he's an overall better footballer than Vipotnik. He offered a lot more on the ball, was a lot more skilful and had a range of goals, which is why we got a lot for him.

"Vipotnik will probably score 20+ goals this season, but last year, he was a disaster. So, is this year a one-off? Who knows, and we'd be silly not to accept a substantial fee for him.

"We have a striker replacement ready in Adam Idah, and we need to invest in quality wide players. The sale of Vipotnik could facilitate that."

With Viptonik currently in the midst of a freakishly efficient scoring season, there's every chance that his output could reduce next year. Evidently, this summer presents the best opportunity for Swansea to cash in.