Mick Beale is targeting at least five new signings at Rangers this summer with The Athletic reporting that the Scottish Premiership giants hope to strengthen their hand in a number of different positions.
It’s fair to say that – in comparison to their green-clad rivals from down the road – Rangers recruitment has left a lot to be desired in recent seasons. How many of the club’s signings since, let’s say, the summer of 2019, could be considered an unquestionable success?
Arguably only Ben Davies, Antonio Colak, Malik Tillman, Ryan Kent, Steven Davis, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Joe Aribo, and Calvin Bassey; a hit rate of nine out of 34.
The early signs, at least, suggest that both Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell – January arrivals from Standard Liege and Norwich City respectively – are more Tilman and Kent than Aaron Ramsey and Bongani Zungu.
And with Rangers drawing up plans for a summer overhaul – this summer arguably the most important in the club’s recent history given that so many key players are out of contract – the pressure is on as Beale, Ross Wilson and co look to unearth the next Raskin, Aribo or Bassey.
Beale wants at least five new signings at Rangers
Beale, The Athletic report, is prioritising a new goalkeeper. He also wants a left-footed centre-half, a ‘powerful’ midfielder, and a left-footed forward. Not to mention a striker to potentially replace the soon-to-be-free-agent Alfredo Morelos.
Rangers’ first-choice ‘keepers – Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin – have a combined age of 76. A younger, fitter option between the sticks is a must; Cantwell’s former Carrow Road team-mate Angus Gunn joining Livingston’s Shamal George on Rangers’ radar. Gunn, who cost Norwich £5 million, is in ‘outstanding’ form for the Championship outfit.
“I have goalkeepers in mind for the summer that I’d like to add,” Beale tells The Scotsman.
“But I want to give Jon (McLaughlin) access to playing because he’s been here a long time. And, in the season we won the league, he played a lot of games and did well. I wanted to see what was there and I want to give Robby (McCrorie) the same opportunity as well.
“Allan understands that because of his age. He knows I have to see what’s here. I don’t want to be looking for three goalkeepers in the summer.”
Should Morelos depart, meanwhile, Beale will have only Colak and injury-prone 30-year-old Roofe in attack. The Glasgow giants were linked with both Kevin Nisbet and Cho Gue-Sung last month. They may be tempted to return for both in the off-season.
Furthermore, an energetic, box-to-box midfielder would help move Rangers away from their long-standing reliance upon Davis, Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield.
