Rangers manager Michael Beale should look no further than Leicester City captain Jonny Evans as he pledges some “grey hair” to replace the experience that said goodbye to Ibrox last night.
The Gers have announced that five senior players in Allan McGregor, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos will leave the club when their contracts expire in the summer, freeing up a substantial amount on the wagebill.
Despite a desperately poor season, Rangers fans hung on after the final whistle following the 2-2 draw with Hearts to pay tribute to five players who have all had their role to play over several years at the club.
With over 1,000 Rangers appearances walking out the door, there’s a lot of Ibrox experience leaving this summer, and ex-Manchester United hero Jonny Evans can help soften the blow.
Michael Beale in hunt for “grey hair” at Rangers
Speaking after the game, Beale was clear that the club is focused on bringing youthful invigoration into Rangers as he paid tribute to the departing stars.
But the Rangers manager was also crystal that the club are looking to replace the outgoing experience with some “grey hair” as the transfer window approaches
“You’re losing a lot of appearances, you’re losing five main players that have been starters regularly for this team over a period of time,” said Beale.
“I think that we’re at a stage where we have no choice with the age and where some of the players are at in their career and their ambitions and the fact that we want to reenergise the squad.
“I think we need to bring some speed and athleticism into the club, we need to really improve in the final third in terms of our presence and in our general ability there.
“I’d like to think that they’ve handed the baton over and have helped players like Lundstram, Goldson, Tavernier to grow and hopefully they’ll take that on.
“And we’re not signing just youth team players this summer, there’ll be a bit of grey hair in our new signings as well.”
This is where our suggestion of Leicester City captain and legendary Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans comes into play.
Jonny Evans would bring quality, experience and mentality to Rangers
As Rangers hunt to replace the experience just lost, Evans must be one player who has been the subject of conversation amongst the Ibrox recruitment team.
Having long-been one of the Premier League’s most stalwart centre-backs, the 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, as he returns from injury just in time to try and salvage Leicester’s Premier League status.
The fact that Evans has spent the bulk of this season out of the Leicester side with a calf problem is telling, given the club’s precarious Premier League position.
Captaining the club to a valuable point against Champions League-bound Newcastle in only his second game back from a seven-month lay-off, Evans will be key as Leicester hunt the victory over West Ham that can save their season.
Given goal difference, the club also need Everton to lose against Bournemouth to stand any chance of survival.
Whatever happens, the future of Evans is unclear, with the 91-capped Northern Ireland defender out of contract come the end of the season.
A three-time Premier League, two-time League Cup and one-time Champions League winner with Manchester United, Jonny Evans also captained Leicester to the FA Cup in 2021.
A born winner who clearly still has something in the tank, given Rangers’ defensive deficiencies and a lack of effective back-up, Evans could be a smart signing for the club.
As that experience walks out of the Ibrox doors, Evans knows what it takes to win things. As Rangers try to get back to doing just that, securing the Ulsterman’s influence could be a stroke of grey-haired genius.