Rangers must make move for £800,000 rated Australia international

If Rangers are troubled in any one position right now, it’s centre back. For David Bates to be viewed as the best defender at the club and a big miss gives some idea of the absolute poverty there, with the alternatives being the underwhelming Bruno Alves, the hapless Fabio Cardoso and the uncomfortable Russell Martin.

In short, Rangers’ central defence is almost as bad right now as it was at certain points in the lower leagues. While the CV of the players in there is probably better, football is played on the pitch, and not on a resume, and Rangers have been found wanting desperately.

Which is why new recruits are absolutely critical for that area, and an international with around 30 caps to his name could be a welcome boost. Matthew Spiranovic has done the business many times for his native Australia, and the 29 year old is currently out of contract, having last spent time in the rich lands of the Chinese League One with Hangzhou Greentown.

The 6ft 3 giant has vast experience of a wide range of leagues, not only that of China but the Bundesliga, Japan, his home nation and Qatar, and unlike other ‘experienced defenders’ Rangers have signed is below 30.

The former German Cup winner (at only 18 years of age) was able to choose between the Socceroos and Croatia by way of family links and went with the former, racking up a huge number of caps and being tipped for stardom.

In fairness, it didn’t work out that way for the giant stopper, and his career has been solid if not as good as it should have been – but the ability is clearly there. Hardly helped by injuries (he’s had, quite a few) and circumstance (his time in Japan was derailed by natural disasters), this is a lad with the quality to be better than he currently appears to be, and with everything to prove.

Rangers are desperate for a decent defender and we certainly do not lack Australian predecessors for that position (all rise, Craig Moore and Kevin Muscat).

If Spiranovic could be half as good as Moore was for us, it would be a gamble well worth it.