Rangers squad hasn’t changed as much as Philippe Clement probably envisaged when last season ended.
The manager can’t get his own game plan going with players who clearly aren’t suitable for a high energy and high pressing philosophy.
The Gers boss needs to sell players but doesn’t have much of a day who and will have to contend with dealing with whatever bids come in on a case by case basis.
One player who has been linked with a move to England and further afield is Connor Goldson and the Rangers stopper has seen his name dropped in the latest online speculation.
Has Connor Goldson been seen for the last time in a Rangers shirt?
Goldson has been seen as a player who might leave ever since Clement dropped him for a big game against Hearts, a decision explained by the manager at the time:
“Connor played a lot of games the last couple of months, a lot of minutes, did a lot of really good things, that’s why we were the best defence in the league. But he was also lacking some freshness.
“I had this plan on Wednesday but Leon became sick at the last minute so it’s more to gain freshness again. That was the plan but it wasn’t possible because Leon was sick.
“It’s the number of matches, it’s not one player in the world who plays all this time at the same level, it’s normal when you play a lot of games that at one moment you can be a little bit more tired.”
Reading between the lines, Goldson’s performances were far from good enough and Clement took him out of the firing line.
What was more interesting though was not reinstating the vice-captain after being rested.
It could be that this was his last appearance in a competitive squad after injury ended his season.
Goldson has already been linked with a move to Birmingham City and to Saudi Arabia.
Goldson jets out to Cyprus in mystery transfer speculation
Responding to a Rangers fan who reported Goldson leaving for Cyprus on a private Jet, Cypriot football podcast This is Mappa did a bit of digging into the speculation with The Daily Record also covering his departure.
Not only did they put to bed doubts that the 31-year old’s wages could be afforded but he also confirmed that Aris Limassol could be Goldson’s new club.
Goldson is currently on a reported £37,000 per week and the fact that he didn’t start against Man Utd gives another indication into where Clement sees him in the pecking order.
Rangers really need to start moving players out to free up money on the wage bill and to help bring players in.
The Gers boss has hinted that targets have been identified and verbally agreed to join the Ibrox revolution but there are obstacles that ned to be overcome.
It’s been a long time since the defence didn’t feature either James Tavernier and Connor Goldson but there is an increasing likelihood that matchday one for 2024/24 could.
