Rangers’ wing problems are rather well documented at present. Currently at Ibrox, Rangers really only have Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama as options for either wing. Lewis Stewart was loaned out to Queen’s Park, like he was to Alloa last season. He isn’t seen as ready enough for the first team and potentially may never be. Time will tell on that one. But at the moment, Rangers’ wing options are distinctly lacking.
Findlay Curtis offers another option
Naturally, some Rangers fans place Findlay Curtis as a potential option. But he’s more of a forward and a utility forward at that, not necessarily a pure winger. The question, therefore, does sit: where will Rangers’ wing creativity come from?
Antman, of course, as we know, has potential. His CV before arriving at Ibrox was an outstanding one. He was once valued at £30M in terms of his contribution. That was the amount Go Ahead Eagles would have had to spend to replace him.
Gassama, from the start, was poor. He was an impact substitute to an extent, but had terrible decision making. He just wasn’t of the right fit. But Rangers are, for now, stuck with him.
Cozier Duberry remains a possibility
As such, the interest in Brighton’s Amario Cozier Duberry certainly would be one possibility for Rangers. The £5M winger, who shone for League One Bolton, is a distinct possibility.
Rangers are coming towards serious action and lack the wing options that they clearly need. Whether Cozier Duberry would be of the right fit, time will tell, if indeed that deal does go through.
But it leaves the issue of a left winger because Cozier Duberry is a right winger. Indeed, almost all of Rangers’ options are right wingers, although the depth is not huge there.
Rangers lack a natural left winger
Mikey Moore was, of course, a left winger, but he’s long gone. As we said, Lewis Stewart isn’t deemed strong enough yet. So who would be the left wing option? Would that be Findlay Curtis?
He was on the left against Saint Étienne but didn’t particularly shine. The weight of the jersey appeared to be a little bit heavy at the time. This is one that we hope he grows into.
But for now, Rangers have no established left winger at all. For a team that may well use wing options as a general tactic, that is a bit of a lack.
McInnes must address the position
Time will tell what Derek McInnes does with that slot, with that position. There is plenty of time until the September 3 deadline day. But there’s not so much time before the serious action starts.
Having a lack of options for that area of the pitch is a bit of a concern at this point. For now, it’s not an absolutely critical situation. But at the same time, Rangers really should get it resolved, and resolved fairly soon.
Whether Cozier Duberry is the answer there, time will tell.