Ashley Cole and Rangers have been paired together in the transfer mill in recent days.
The Chelsea legend has just finished a spell at LA Galaxy, and is eyeing a move back to Europe with the end of the MLS now upon us. One of those speculated destinations for the left-back is Rangers.
The Englishman is one of the most decorated defenders to come out of his country. He accumulated 13 major honours in a 15-year spell down in England and managed 107 caps for England. There’s plenty to like about his pedigree.
So why should Rangers not sign him given those stats? Because he simply isn’t the same player that he was during those glory days.
LA Galaxy failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs this season. Many of their goals came from defensive lapses in the wide-areas, where Cole was a major operator. That’s not to say he was at fault for most of them, but he certainly didn’t overly-impress.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlous stated today that he wasn’t sure about whether Cole could perform in the Premier League. Instead, he believes that Rangers would be a good destination or a Championship club in England.
He’ll demand a wage that Rangers don’t need to dish out
Cole apparently rejected reduced terms in the USA to stay with Galaxy. Nobody is sure of how much he was earning in the first-place, but it wouldn’t have been pennies. If Rangers want to lure him to the Scottish Premiership, he’s going to want as high a wage as Rangers could offer.
It’s easy to see the name and his achievements and instantly think it would be a good move. After all, he’s an Arsenal Invincible.
The truth is, however, that Rangers need to think of this logically. Do the club need to spend high wages on another left-back? They already have four who can operate there, with Borna Barisic and Andy Halliday looking exciting this season.
Cole may very well be better than the pair of them, but is it an area Rangers desperately need to strengthen in, and in expensive fashion too? Absolutely not. The club are fully equipped in that area to reach their goals this season.
Cole will go to another club and likely be a star. Rangers, however, don’t need to be the ones splashing out for him.
