Slowly but surely, Rangers’ new-look roster is starting to take shape.
Particularly, the defence. A backline switched up by the departures of Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic may have been torn to pieces by Celtic in the Old Firm derby but, either side of that Parkhead aberration, signs of progress have been clear to see.
Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dundee – Cyriel Dessers’ brace fired Rangers into the League Cup semi-finals – ensured that Philippe Clement’s side have now kept a clean sheet in four of their last five games.
Jefte, at both ends of the pitch, is proving himself to be a more-than capable Barisic replacement at left-back.
Former FC Twente captain Robin Propper is developing a fine Rangers partnership with John Souttar, meanwhile, with Clement seemingly settling on his first-choice back-four following Ben Davies’ departure.
But for one of the defenders who could have but eventually didn’t end up at Ibrox before the close of the window, the campaign is trending in a very different direction.
Rangers were linked with Hoffenheim defender Stanley N’Soki
Stanley N’Soki was linked with Rangers in the final week of the window, via French publication L’Equipe.
And the rumours certainly made some sense. N’Soki, a former France Under 21 international, had worked with Clement at Club Brugge in Belgium. As a left-footer, he also appeared to be a natural replacement for the Birmingham-bound southpaw Davies.
But with the interest coming to nothing – Rangers instead opted for Neraysho Kasanwirjo – N’Soki found himself stuck in Sinsheim when the clock struck 11 on August 30.
And, three weeks on, that lack of late-window movement is now starting to feel more like N’Soki’s loss than Rangers’.
Because, four games into the new Bundesliga season, N’Soki has played only one minute of football for Hoffenheim. The 25-year-old has not even got off the bench in the last three outings.
And while his situation could change pretty quickly – Hoffenheim have conceded nine goals in the last 270 minutes of football and may be ripe for a defensive reshuffle – N’Soki’s reputation continues to dwindle two years on from his £10 million move across the border into Germany.
Robin Propper and John Souttar are improving all the time
Why Rangers opted for Kasanwirjo rather than N’Soki is anyone’s guess.
Perhaps the Glasgow giants were scared off by a 2023/24 season beset by injuries. N’Soki missed the final seven Bundesliga matches with a hip problem.
Furthermore, Clement highlighted Kasanwirjo’s impressive versatility following his deadline day arrival from Feyenoord.
Maybe the manager felt that, with Dutch loanee capable of playing at centre-half, in defensive midfield and at full-back, Rangers could get two or three signings in one.
Whatever the reason, while Hoffenheim’s backline springs more leaks by the game, Rangers’ is starting to look fairly watertight.
“In the defence, we did well and didn’t have many chances against us. So, the 1-0 was, I think, how it was supposed to be,” the increasingly-influential Propper said after that 1-0 triumph at Dundee United, the hosts failing to muster even a shot on target after Tom Lawrence’s seventh minute opener.
“You have to evolve and improve. I am new so I have to get used to the football, my players, my opponents.
“That takes some time. I try to do my best and you see in moments we have good quality in defence and in the attack. We can improve that and I try to do my best.
“With John [Souttar] and Jefte, we’re doing really well to improve.”
With Malmo and Lyon looming on the horizon as the Europa League gets underway this week, however, Rangers may be about to face a far tougher test of their revamped backline.
