If there is one positive that can be taken out of Rangers’ 2-1 Boxing Day defeat at St Mirren, it’s that it occurred just a week before the opening of the January transfer window.
Now, Philippe Clement’s team have been linked with a number of potential mid-season additions, and most of them in the attacking department.
Rangers reportedly like South Africa striker Iqraam Rayners. Croatia Under 21 international Marko Soldo has been linked with a move to Glasgow after blossoming as a number ten at NK Osiek.
And watch out for free-scoring Malaysia winger Arif Aiman Hanapi, too.
But former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has seen enough – particularly as his old charges suffered a fourth defeat in eight away Scottish Premiership fixtures – to argue that a new centre-half is much more of a necessity than a new centre-forward, for instance.
Clement confirmed that John Souttar faces another few weeks on the sidelines before the 1-0 victory over Dundee last Saturday. Leon Balogun is a doubt for the Old Firm derby with Celtic now too after picking up an injury in Paisley.
That leaves Robin Propper, unconvincing since his arrival from FC Twente, as the only fit, senior central defender at Clement’s disposal.
Barry Ferguson says Rangers must prioritise a defender in January transfer window
“The squad was already down to the bare bones at the back as it was, so finding some fresh cover is now an imperative,” Ferguson argues, speaking to the Daily Record after Clement started the versatile Dujon Sterling in the middle of his back four for the second time in the space of a few days.
“The clock is ticking rapidly towards Celtic’s trip across the city.
“They don’t have time to waste, so [chief executive Patrick] Stewart and sporting director Nils Koppen are going to have to get their heads together and work out a way to recruit a new defender as soon as the window opens on the 1st.
“Clement will know the dangers of failing to do so. He was forced to throw Dujon Sterling and Robin Propper together in Paisley the other night and paid a price as the unfamiliar pairing were undone at the death.”
Sterling has performed impressively wherever he has been asked to fill in during his Rangers career. It was he, however, who gifted possession to St Mirren in the build up to Caolan Boyd-Munce’s thumping 93rd minute winner.
And while some have argues that Rangers must bring Ben Davies back from his loan spell at Birmingham City, Ferguson would rather see the former Liverpool man sold and a new face arrive.
Ferguson would rather see Rangers sell Birmingham loanee Ben Davies
“I’m a big fan of Sterling and thought he did well against Saints until that late slip, but that’s the sort of thing that happens when you are forced to cobble a partnership together at the last minute,” adds Ferguson.
“I’ve seen it suggested that Clement should look to recall Ben Davies from Birmingham. He’s certainly having a decent run down there at St Andrews and is playing well.
“But there’s a potential for Rangers to earn some cash from that arrangement so I can’t see him being invited back. Koppen and Clement will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements but it has to happen now because the team is just one more injury away from a defensive nightmare.
“Hard graft is going to be required from everybody over the remaining weeks of the season because there’s no doubt there is a long hard slog required to turn around this campaign.
“In the meantime, Stewart is going to have to work around the clock to find the stopper Clement needs in the door by the Hogmanay Bells.”
Clement refused to speak out on Davies’ future at Rangers when asked recently. The 29-year-old, brought in on a £4 million deal from Sheffield United, does not have an option or obligation-to-buy clause in his Birmingham contract however.
To quote former Ibrox stalwart Andy Halliday, however, Ben Davies struggled with the ‘physicality’ of the Scottish game at times, letting him go something of an ‘obvious’ decision when Birmingham showed their hand.
