Brentford and Sunderland sent scouts to watch Olwethu Makhanya during Rangers' 3-1 win over Kilmarnock last weekend. Clubs from Italy and Spain have been sniffing around too. For a defender who only arrived in the summer, that's a notable level of attention — and exactly the kind of situation Rangers need to handle carefully.
The 22-year-old South African international joined from Philadelphia Union for a reported £3 million after 42 league appearances in MLS. He came through Stellenbosch before making that jump to America, and earned his first senior international cap in May. That's a fairly lean CV for someone attracting multi-league interest, which tells you the performances themselves have been doing the talking.
Rangers hold the cards here
The key detail is the contract: Makhanya is tied to Ibrox until 2030, with an additional option year on top. Rangers aren't being pressured into anything. That's a negotiating position, not a problem.
Selling a centre-back six months into his adaptation to European football — where the tempo, press resistance, and tactical demands are a significant step up from MLS — would be premature. He hasn't finished developing yet. The return on a £3m investment shouldn't be measured this early.
There's also a practical squad issue. Losing a dependable defender mid-development without a ready replacement doesn't just leave a gap — it creates a recruitment problem Rangers would have to solve quickly, likely at inflated January prices.
What it would take to change that calculus
A genuinely exceptional offer — well beyond his current valuation — paired with a credible replacement already identified: that's the only scenario where Rangers should open the door. Premier League interest, even from clubs pushing for promotion or stability, doesn't automatically meet that bar.
Another full season at Rangers, regular football, and continued growth could push his market value considerably higher. Brentford watching him now is flattering. Brentford watching him in 12 months, after a full Scottish Premiership campaign and European minutes, is a different conversation entirely.
Rangers' defensive odds in any competition get shakier the moment Makhanya leaves without a proper replacement in place. That's the real risk of rushing this.
His contract runs to 2030. Rangers should use it.
