It feels like something is brewing at Ibrox, with new Glasgow Rangers boss Danny Rohl assembling an exciting, youthful squad that could end the season as Premiership champions.
After so much turmoil in the years since the last title win, and a run to the Europa League final, there finally seems to be a sense of calm development under Rohl’s regime.
Indeed, the hope will be that the Germans can continue to build a stable side for a long time, following a number of exits and entries in the space of just a few windows.
Incredibly, from the team that reached that European showpiece in Seville in 2022, long-serving captain James Tavernier is the only survivor of the matchday squad, with the likes of Calvin Bassey, Ryan Kent and Ryan Jack all departing soon after.
|
Rangers – UEL Final XI |
|
|---|---|
|
Position |
The player |
|
GK |
McGregor |
|
RB |
Thaveni Restaurant |
|
CB |
Goldson |
|
CB |
Bassey |
|
LB |
Barisic |
|
CM |
Jack |
|
CM |
Lundstram |
|
RW |
Kent |
|
AM |
Wright |
|
LW |
The Chamber |
|
CF |
They are |
In Jack’s case, the Scot has represented a reasonable player in the Premiership, something the Gers may be looking to do this summer.
Rangers could secure a deal at Ibrox on another free transfer
Entry is still top of mind, although work has begun behind the scenes on potential new signings at Ibrox, as rumors have started to heat up.
Among those being linked is Leeds United’s Joe Gelhardt, with a fee of around £5m raised for the player who has a year left on his contract at Elland Road.
The England player is on loan from Hull City, while he is returning to Leeds, his fellow striker Joel Piroe is also said to be moving to Glasgow, with the 49ers linked with both clubs.
Rangers are keen to sign a £5m star who could end Skov Olsen’s stay at Ibrox
Guardians can look elsewhere for a solution on the right side.
As already mentioned, there are those in the top team in Scotland that are being watched by the Light Blues officials, and reports last month suggest that Rangers and Celtic are ready to sign Kilmarnock star, David Watson.
Whoever manages to secure Champions League qualification could have the edge in what has been described as an “open race”, although the Glasgow duo will face rivals from the Italian clubs.
The biggest benefit or attraction of signing the 21-year-old is that he will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Why Watson could be Ryan Jack 2.0 for Rangers
Last summer’s signing of Lyall Cameron, now on loan at Aberdeen, may have ringing bells ringing when it comes to signing young, Scottish talent from within the Premiership, although, as evidenced by Jack’s popularity in the past, such opportunities would be too good to ignore.
Although Jack was not a teenager when he signed for the Dons on a free transfer in 2017, he proved himself worthy of a long spell at Ibrox, eventually leaving seven years later after an injury-plagued final season at the club.
He did not admit how he would have liked, although the 34-year-old was a key part of that impressive team under Steven Gerrard and then Giovanni van Bronckhorst, scoring the first goal in the 2022 Scottish Cup final win.
After amassing 250 appearances at Pittodrie, he went on to make a further 216 for the Gers, proving one of the recent success stories when it comes to signing ‘proven premiership’ talents.
Watson, still only 21, has already enjoyed plenty of game time for Killie so far, now making 137 appearances in all competitions, scoring and assisting 19 times.
Like Jack, he is not exactly a prolific goalscorer or provider, however he is certainly an impressive player in his midfield position, be it as a number six, eight or as a number ten.
Where he has done particularly well is winning the ball back, as he has played between 2.6 games and a block per game in the Premiership this season.
In comparison, during the 2020/21 title-winning campaign, the aforementioned Jack was just behind, averaging 2.2 in that same metric.
Like Jack before him, there is a sense that Watson is ready for that “next step”, with former Gers player Alan Hutton having been named the division’s young player of the year back in 2023/24.
In the opinion of one commentator, he could be the “next big thing in Scottish football”, and the versatile Scotland U21 international is certainly a smart choice as the Gers draw up a list of summer targets.
Offer accepted: The Rangers player turned down a new Ibrox contract and is now open to leaving
Disappointing news for Ger.
