Shopping on a budget will make Nils Koppen’s job of rebuilding Rangers even harder this summer.
There will be as big a clear-out from the Rangers squad as there was last year, however, it will be hoped that more than the £800,000 that five players were sold for last summer can be raised.
In terms of potential incomings, the San Francisco 49ers takeover won’t affect transfers immediately, but there are three key areas that Rangers need to address.
One of them, in midfield, involves adding depth to a team that has looked woefully short of options recently.
An easy fix might just have presented itself to the Rangers technical director though.
How position shift for Ianis Hagi could solve Rangers’ problem
Throughout his career, Ianis Hagi has played as a winger and as a No.10/attacking midfielder.
It’s almost through habit that he still competes for places in these positions.
For Rangers though, his skillset is better suited to a different position altogether.
Hagi is; composed in possession, can resist a press, play passes off of either foot and loves a shot from distance or to get into the box.
One of his biggest strengths is playing with his head up facing the way that Rangers are attacking.
Barry Ferguson tried it against Athletic Club only to make a bizarre tactical switch when Ridvan Yilmaz got injured or things might have been different.
European football might need more defensive discipline, but Hagi showed against Athletic in the first leg that he can do the dirty side of the game.
Should Rangers offer Hagi a new deal?
Out of contract in the summer, Hagi is on a reported £21,000 per week according to Salary Sport, however, it might not be as straight forward as this.
The Romania international had to renegotiate his terms before he could play competitively this season and didn’t start a league game until December.
At 26-year old, he knows what he wants and has expressed his love for Rangers and appreciates the size, demands and history of the club.
The forward line needs more pace and ball carrying and the midfield needs more creativity.
In big games, Hagi is one of a few players who are willing to take responsibility, and with nothing to lose, Ferguson should play him in a role where he will get more possession.
It won’t be his decision as to whether or not he gets a new contract, but Ferguson could play a key role in whether or not Nils Koppen offers the sort of deal that sees someone who knows what it takes to win a league title at Rangers extend their stay.
