How Rangers can instantly replace Thelo Aasgaard on deadline day

Glasgow Rangers recorded their second win of the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win away at Falkirk, thanks to a brace from Lawrence Shankland.

Shortly after the full-time whistle on the night, the club officially confirmed that attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard had completed a move away from Ibrox.

The Norway international has signed on loan for Anderlecht for the 2026/27 campaign, and the Belgian side have an option to sign him permanently next summer.

He had played 112 across the first two games of the Premiership campaign, scoring against Dundee United, but was an unused substitute against Aberdeen last weekend.

Why Rangers need to replace Thelo Aasgaard

Despite not featuring in the wins over Aberdeen and Falkirk, Aasgaard should be replaced by the 49ers before the summer transfer window slams shut this evening.

The Light Blues have until 5pm to get any deals that they want to get over the line before they have to wait until the January transfer window to bring stars in from other clubs.

Aasgaard’s move to Anderlecht now means that Derek McInnes‘ squad looks particularly light in the attacking areas, with a lack of central attacking players in the group.

Min-su Kim has started the last two Premiership matches in the number ten role after his move from Girona, but he spent the majority of last season starring as a left winger for Andorra on loan in LaLiga 2.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

The Gers, therefore, may need to bring in another player who thrives in central areas if McInnes wants to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation that has a number ten behind the main centre-forward.

The Premiership star Rangers could replace Aasgaard with

As the English transfer window is closed and teams down south may not want to let their players go without being able to replace them, the 49ers may have to turn their attention to the domestic market to replace Aasgaard.

Football Insider reported towards the end of August that Glasgow Rangers were considering a late move to sign Tawanda Maswanhise from Premiership rivals Motherwell.

The outlet claimed that the Gers are strong admirers of the Zimbabwe international and believe that his proven quality in the Premiership would make him a strong addition to their squad.

It was reported earlier in the window that they would want around £4m for the attacker, but it remains to be seen if that fee would do the trick on deadline day.

The 49ers must reignite this interest to secure a deadline-busting deal for the former Leicester City academy starlet, as he would be a dream replacement for Aasgaard.

Maswanhise is an incredibly versatile player who could be utilised as a number ten, out wide on either flank, or as a centre-forward, which makes him the ideal signing to add much-needed depth to McInnes’ forward line.

In the 2025/26 campaign, the Motherwell star offered a far greater threat at the top end of the pitch than Aasgaard, winning the Golden Boot in the Premiership with a haul of 17 goals in 35 matches.

His xA also suggests that he provided slightly more creativity for his teammates than the Norwegian whiz did, although their assist numbers do not reflect that.

Maswanhise has already had a fast start to the current Premiership campaign from a creative perspective, as he provided two assists in his side’s 3-0 win over Dundee United on Wednesday night.

He played alongside former Rangers starlet Alex Lowry as dual tens in a 4-2-2-2 formation for Motherwell, showing that he can be effective as an attacking midfielder, alongside being an impressive centre-forward.

The 23-year-old star would, therefore, be the perfect signing to instantly replace Aasgaard at Ibrox because he is a proven Premiership performer who can cover multiple positions across the frontline for McInnes.

That is why the 49ers should push to get a deadline day done by acting on their previous interest in the forward to make a move for him in the coming hours.