Skov Olsen is one of those players you can see Rangers fans talking themselves into, then talking themselves back out of again. On his day, the numbers he put up at Club Brugge and FC Nordsjaelland suggest a proper threat from wide areas. But the flip side is hard to ignore too: spells in Serie A and the Bundesliga that didn’t match that earlier form, and a feeling he’s struggled when the overall level and intensity ramps up.
The level question is the big one
The worry, really, isn’t whether Olsen can play. It’s whether he can do it when he’s being properly squeezed, doubled up on, and forced to make decisions at pace. The point being made is simple enough: he’s looked a “success” in certain environments, then a “flop” in others, and that pattern usually tells you something about what suits the player.
In Scotland, Rangers regularly face low blocks and teams happy to camp in. That can suit a wide player who likes receiving it early, going one-v-one, and making things happen in the final third. But in Europe, it’s different. Space disappears, full-backs are quicker, and you’re punished for loose touches. If Olsen has found that step up tough before, Rangers would need to be honest about what he’s being brought in to do.
Why a loan feels more realistic than a fee
The money angle is where this starts to feel like a typical Rangers situation. If a club has only bought a player recently, they’re rarely keen to take a big hit straight away. Even if you believe his value has dropped from where it once was, that doesn’t automatically mean the selling club will accept a bargain price.
That’s why a loan is the route that makes the most sense in the discussion. Rangers have lived in that market for a while now: take a player who needs a reset, give him games, build his confidence, and if he performs the value goes up for someone else to buy later. It can work for the team in the short term, but it also means you’re sometimes developing talent you won’t keep.
What Rangers would need from him
If you’re bringing in a right-sided attacker from a higher level, you need end product, not just nice touches. Rangers need wide players who can create separation, take responsibility, and contribute with goals and assists, especially in tight domestic games where one moment changes everything.
And there’s a reality check in this too. Rangers haven’t been at Champions League level in recent campaigns, and that’s part of why a player like Olsen might actually see Scotland as a good place to rebuild. The question is whether Rangers can get the best version of him, not the one that struggled when things got fierce.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
