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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Christopher Jack

Rangers star set for exit to Italy as Michael Beale cashes in with £2.5million fee

Rangers striker Antonio Colak is set to head for the Ibrox exit door and clinch a switch to Parma.

The Croatian moved to Ibrox in a £1.8million deal from PAOK last summer as Giovanni van Bronckhorst landed one of his top targets after a prolonged pursuit.

Now Rangers are set to bank a six-figure profit just 12 months on as Colak closes in on a £2.5million switch to Serie B in the coming days.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a productive first half of the campaign as he hit the ground running at Ibrox during a difficult time for boss Van Bronckhorst.

But his goals dried up after the winter break and he ended the term with 18 strikes from 39 appearances as doubts were cast over his place in Michael Beale's plans going forward.

The Englishman has now sanctioned a deal that will see Colak leave Ibrox ahead of the new campaign as Beale continues to shape his squad for the upcoming domestic and European challenges.

That process will also see keeper Robby McCrorie quit the club after he held crunch talks with his manager regarding his future.

It is understood that McCrorie has made it clear that he sees his career progressing away from his boyhood heroes following the arrival of Jack Butland from Crystal Palace.

McCrorie was given his chance to impress in the closing stages of last season and was a stand-out performer between the sticks for Beale’s side.

But it is Butland - who is set to get the nod in the friendly with Hallescher FC on Friday - that will start the campaign as the first choice at Ibrox.

And McCrorie is now poised to quit the club where he began his career at eight years old.

McCrorie was being monitored by several clubs in England, including Manchester United, last summer and could have left under freedom of contract at the end of the season before Rangers persuaded him to sign a new deal tying him to Ibrox until 2025.

Rangers could look to land a fee in the region of £500,000 for the Auchenhowie graduate after Beale reluctantly accepted that McCrorie will look to head for the exit door in the coming weeks.

A source close to the situation said: “The manager tried to persuade Robby to stay and push for the jersey and although disappointed with the outcome Michael understands and accepts Robby’s reasons.

“After a long and amicable chat both parties agreed that they must move on  sides now have to move on was and a parting of the ways is the only way forward for McCrorie.”

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