If there is no doubt about one thing this summer, it’s that Rangers need a new defence.
With the summer window coming up, a number of Rangers’ rearguard will be leaving the club, requiring replacements.
We start with loans:
Nasser Djiga will return to Wolves with Rangers rejecting the asking price of £10M.
Max Aarons will return to Bournemouth having had a subpar time in Govan and zero interest mutually in a longer stay.
Jayden Meghoma goes back to Brentford having done alright until completely supplanted by Tuur Rommens.
Lastly Derek Cornelius returns to Marseille having fallen out with Danny Rohl.
And contracts?
James Tavernier is out of contract this summer with no word yet on a new deal.
There is also Dujon Sterling’s injury issues and personal problems at present.
Last but not least John Souttar’s dire form this season has hurt his standing in Govan. He’s lost his place.
The last defender on the list is of course Manny Fernandez. He’s secure long term giant bids notwithstanding.
In short, Rangers’ defence is a real state of flux.
Four will definitely leave this summer, and James Tavernier is likely to join them unless a new deal can be agreed.
That would be five defenders departing, and that is a BIG chunk of players.
This was a dangerous risk taken by Kevin Thelwell, Dan Purdy and Russell Martin last summer in bringing in so many loans.
While you now have a potentially good player, he’s not necessarily staying beyond the end of his loan and the club has to plan for next season already.
And Rangers did this not only four times last summer, but of course Mikey Moore and Skov Olsen up front as well.
So there’s a definite four players leaving, which gives Dan Purdy and Danny Rohl a lot of work to do this summer to replace the rearguard.
It’s not ideal, and it’s why the loan market has rarely worked for Rangers.
But hopefully those brought in in the summer will be wise acquisitions and permanent because Rangers need a new defence.