It is another season of unfulfilled potential as Glasgow giants Rangers have had to watch their archrivals Celtic dominate Scottish football circles yet again. After playing second fiddle to the Hoops, the big question regarding the Gers is how they are going to prepare for the coming season. How will the summer be? Any transfers being lined up? Who leaves the club at the height of a somewhat underwhelming season?
Second best
Rangers completed the season with 92 points, and though they had a better finish to the season compared to Celtic, they were second best in both attack and defence all season. Manager Michael Beale has confirmed that indeed the team is in dire need of reinforcements, and signaled what could be a busy transfer period ahead. One move seems already done as Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell is set to switch to Scotland. With Premier League and Championship experience, Dowell is seen as a big addition, though he will need to put behind him his injury history. Settling in during preseason will be key for Dowell as he is expected to pick up right away. He will have the benefit of top end preseason matches to help him settle in. Rangers have already confirmed one against Newcastle United and you can bet on Dowell getting his first feel there even as you back a direct win for tonight’s football matches which are previewed on SportyTrader. Dowell, 25, is reported to have agreed to a three-year contract already, starting July 1. The transfers will not only be inbound. While Rangers have indicated the desire to bring in five to six players, there will be exits as well.
Eight players
Already, Colombian striker Alfredo Morales has said his farewell to the club’s supporters and he is just one of many whose contracts expire at the end of May. At least eight players at the club are soon getting out of contract, which means Beale and his team must start engaging either for extension or looking for replacements. The Gers have for long been linked with Ivorian midfielder Parfait Guiagon who is currently at Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Israeli side is said to be willing to listen to offers for the player. Blackpool forward Jerry Yates is another player Rangers are interested in, after a season in which he bagged 14 goals in 41 Championship matches. With Blackpool’s relegation to League One, here comes an opportunity for Rangers to go for their man. Malik Tillman has been on loan at Rangers and he did so well that the Gers are mulling over making the move permanent. Beale will however want to look at the possibility of holding on to his key players as well. There are plans to have important contract extension talks with John Lundstram and Borna Barisic. Both players have a year left on their contracts and Rangers fear losing them for free next summer if they don’t extend this summer. This summer needs a delicate balance for rangers, to see who needs to stay and who has to go, and at what cost…