Attention should turn in the coming weeks and months as to who Rangers should look to secure in the summer. The priority will be strengthening the squad depth and building on an impressive upturn in form.
Here I have picked out 5 players I feel the Ibrox hierarchy should target and sound out.
1-STEVEN DAVIS
Yes, yes I am well aware of some of the bad feeling that still lies within sections of the support, due to the circumstances that saw the player depart from his previous spell. I am a big believer that his talent would and should outshine any of that anger, the positives far outweigh the negatives. We need quality and a midfield that already has Jack, Dorrans and Docherty to pick from would only be enhanced by Davis’ arrival. He would offer leadership skills as well as being unmatched in terms of ability in the Scottish Premiership. If there is any chance of Davis coming back it is my belief that Rangers should explore the possibility.
2-JAMES McARTHUR
Another midfield player that would only serve to improve the options available to us. Wages might prove a stumbling block too far, the player, however, could be open to a move and willing to take a wage cut in order to seal his dream move. McArthur is a hugely experienced pro and despite being the wrong side of 30 would more than still cut it at the top end of the Scottish Premiership. Fitting all the midfielders at the club into a starting line up could be a huge issue, Rangers may also feel they have the younger and more cost-effective version of McArthur in Greg Docherty, a player who has started life at Ibrox in highly impressive form. The last transfer window has seen the club’s number of Scottish players only increase. This could prove to be a major selling point for the club.
3-OLI McBURNIE
This should be the absolute top target for Rangers this summer in my eyes. Like it or not we will not keep hold of Alfredo Morelos in the long term. McBurnie would offer a player in the same mould as the Colombian. He plays best as a target man who best brings others into play, this would prove a highly popular choice with supporters and players alike, the forward’s friendship with Jason Cummings would only add to the camaraderie in the squad.
His form since going to Barnsley on loan in the January window will no doubt make the forward an attractive prospect to many clubs up and down the country. This is a move the player would be keen to discuss and would also prove an added boost to shirt sales in the summer.
4-CHRIS CADDEN
Nobody is in any sort of doubt that Tav is the Rangers first choice right back, but with the current backup option being Lee Hodson, an immediate upgrade is more than required. Injuries are part of football, and we must plan for every possible outcome, or in the eventual outcome that Tav’s form continues to grow, we could be forced to cash in on one of our prize assets. Cadden would offer us a low risk, high reward type player who has plenty of experience at Scottish Premiership level, his attacking runs may not quite be at the level of Tavernier, but very few are. We would be silly not to have a backup plan in place. Classed mainly as a midfielder, Cadden has plied his trade at right full back on a number of occasions, performing at a high level. He falls into the category of one for the future, if Murty does get as expected the job he might just fancy his chances of developing Cadden in a similar mould.
5-JORDAN JONES
Rangers’ interest in the Kilmarnock player was rumoured in the last transfer window, with the Ayrshire club not only asking for a ridiculous valuation and then being faux offended by the offer Rangers made. This is something that falls into if the price is right category, his form has only continued to improve and would offer a young alternative to the already impressive options. Jones is a rough diamond at the moment and good proper coaching mixed with the right amount of exposure to first-team football would only help his development, Rangers should not pay well over the odds for him however in my view.
Did I miss anyone? Do you agree? Let us know
@steven_harrigan @rangersnewsuk