The A-League Could be a Goldmine for Rangers This Summer
For the fourth consecutive season, Rangers finished second-best to Celtic – an outcome that has become the norm rather than the exception.
Watching their greatest rivals celebrate another Scottish Premiership title only added salt to long-festering wounds.
Celtic wrapped up the title long before the final fixture, but that did little to put Rangers’ fans out of their misery. The 2020/21 title win papered over the cracks, and Rangers are back to square one.
For now, Rangers fans have turned their attention to the ongoing takeover process, which is expected to usher the club into a new era.
It wouldn’t transform the club overnight, but if the prospective owners live up to their promises, they could eventually help them reclaim their dominance.
The first priority for the incoming owners will be to sort out the managerial situation. Once that’s done, revamping the squad is next on the to-do list.
Rangers’ recruitment over the past few years have been dreadful.
While they’ll be tempted to sanction a full-scale overhaul, former chairman Dave King has cautioned the new regime against blowing the entire transfer budget in one transfer window.
He has urged the club to use half of the initial funds to hire the right manager and lay the foundations for a long-term rebuild.
Rangers must spend wisely this summer. This is not the time for marquee signings or sentimental returns. They need to make calculated moves, and the A-League could be a goldmine.
Australia’s top flight is a breeding ground for underrated gems. If Rangers go shopping there, they could get players hungry to play overseas and who would bet on themselves to thrive in Scotland.
Signing A-League players would also spark increased interest on Rangers on the sportsbooks featured on comparison platform australianbettingsites over the next few years.
With detailed bookmaker reviews on many different betting sites in Australia, it is the ideal resource for Aussie fans who love betting on sports.
They would be eager to wager on Rangers if their squad featured a sprinkling of A-League stars. Here are three potential options they could target this summer.
Noah Botic
Rangers will head into this summer transfer window needing to bolster every area of the squad. Their first target should be Western United striker Noah Botic.
The 23-year-old striker fired United to a third-placed finish and helped them clinch a spot in the play-offs with 16 goals in 29 games.
Unfortunately, his prolific goalscoring form wasn’t enough to send them to the play-off final. They crashed out in the semi-finals after losing 4-1 on aggregate to eventual champions Melbourne City.
Given his performances last season, it will be surprising if he’s not highly sought after. He’d be an ideal understudy for Cyril Dessers, who ended 2024/25 as the Premiership’s top scorer with 18 goals.
Kai Trewin
City’s Kai Trewin could be another exciting addition for Rangers this summer.
The 24-year-old was key to City’s A-League success. He helped to keep an astonishing 12 clean sheets in 27 A-League games, including one in the final.
Trewin tallied three league goals and an assist. He also created three big chances, showing his ability to affect the game at the top end of the pitch, but his defensive contributions were outstanding.
The Aussie star averaged 1.2 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 4.3 ball recoveries and 5.3 clearances per 90 minutes. He won 48 percent of his ground duels and was a dominant force in the air, winning 61% of his aerial battles.
The centre-back is far from the finished article, but he has a high ceiling and would be a fantastic addition to the Rangers backline.
Panagiotis Kikianis
Adelaide United teenager Panagiotis Kikianis made his mark in the A-League, helping them reach the play-offs.
They were sent packing by a hat-trick from Western striker Botic, but Kikianis had done enough for his boyhood club to put himself on the map.
The 19-year-old centre-back helped Adelaide keep three clean sheets. He added two goals and an assist in 23 A-League games, but his underlying numbers were particularly eye-catching.
The exciting teenager averaged 1.4 tackles, 3.1 ball recoveries and 6.2 clearances per match.
He was also a force to be reckoned with in 1v1 situations, recording a 68% success rate in ground duels and followed that up by winning 61% of his aerial duels.
Kikianis has all the tools to become a top player, and Rangers would be wise to snap him up this summer.