Philippe Clement’s proposed 24/25 Rangers squad before ‘rebuild’ begins will stun fans

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There is plenty of talk about the Rangers squad ahead of the transfer window.

After another year of underachievement, Rangers manager Philippe Clement has admitted that a ‘rebuild’ is on the horizon.

But just how big a job does the Belgian boss and incoming transfer guru Nils Koppen have on their hands?

Here we assess the reported comings and goings at Rangers in a squad context and it’s clear that major surgery is required in a short period of time.

In fact, with nine first-teamers coming to the end of their current deals and transfer stories aplenty surrounding others in the team, we don’t envy the Rangers recruitment board.

• READ MORE: Rangers’ second summer signing set for Ibrox medical this week

Rangers squad overhaul begins with outgoings

Rangers have six senior players, almost all of them on high wages, who about to leave the club for nothing.

Whilst we’ve a sneaking suspicion homegrown Ryan Jack might just earn himself a cost effective extension, reports claim Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe and John Lundstram are all out the door.

Leon Balogun – who is open to a new contract – and Jon McLaughlin are the other two players who can walk for nothing this summer.

Rangers’ three loan attackers – Abdallah Sima, Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes – will also see their short-term deals expire in the summer.

Abdallah Sima and Oscar Cortes are confirmed targets but it’s unclear how willing Brighton and RC Lens are to do business with Rangers at this juncture.

In terms of outgoings, leadership duo James Tavernier and Connor Goldson have been strongly linked with moves to Saudi Arabia.

Loan players like Jose Cifuentes – who has an option with Brazilian side Cruzeiro – and Sam Lammers – who is on fire with Utrecht – have both been strongly linked with permanent exits.

Ianis Hagi, who could return to Rangers this summer, is another who has been linked with an exit whilst Robby McCrorie has been linked to Aberdeen.

Rangers also have a number of senior players on their books who are on high wages and, due to injury or other reasons, are not contributing enough across the season.

Namely this lists includes Tom Lawrence, Ben Davies, Kieran Dowell and Scott Wright, all of whom are yet to convince fans of their contribution.

* currently out on loan

Who will Philippe Clement retain?

Philippe Clement has been eager in the past to insist we do not rip it up and ‘throw everything in the garbage’.

And we’re not going to.

There are some genuine positives in the Rangers squad and we’d say four quality options with whom we can build next season.

Jack Butland – essentially described as indispensable by Philippe Clement – is a reliable and top class goalkeeper.

Dujon Sterling, Rangers’ all-action utility man, has proven himself a combative, talented, technical option no matter where he plays.

Mohamed Diomande is a player of clear talent and although still raw in many respects, Rangers could have a record-breaker on their hands in the shape of the Ivorian.

Then there is Todd Cantwell, a talented player who polarises supporters but who possesses the quality to be a difference maker if Rangers and Philippe Clement can harness it.

As for the others, there is talent in the Rangers squad but a lot of it has been hampered by injury.

Ridvan Yilmaz, Nico Raskin and Rabbi Matondo are all players who clearly have a lot of potential but who have suffered from injuries since coming into the club.

This has to change next season and if it doesn’t the club will need to cash in at the earliest available opportunity.

Brazilian striker Danilo showed flashes of his quality before suffering a career-altering knee injury from which we pray he recovers this season.

Combine that with the players who are likely to still be around next season, and we’re not sure what to make of this base team before taking into account summer signings.

The question is, how do we make it better?

* tipped with exit or permanent transfer

** before any incoming transfers, excluding Jefte