Despite needing players in several positions, Rangers continue to be linked with left-backs including recent speculation involving Fredrick Oppegard and Josh Doig.
Gers boss Philippe Clement has inherited a squad with issues and the full-back position appears to be one that he is intent on addressing.
With Fabio Silva already in the door, Rangers have started the transfer window with intent and Nils Koppen is going to his little black book for Fredrick Oppegard or Josh Doig and there is much to be encouraged about with the two players.
Rangers have even choice with Fredrick Oppegard and Josh Doig
There has been a scatter gun approach to recruitment in the last few seasons but, for once, it isn’t just a familiarity that sees the two young left-backs mentioned as potential long-term successors to Borna Barisic.
Using DataMB’s comparison tool, the similarities between the PSV Eindhoven and Verona defenders makes it easy to see why both of their names have come up.
It makes sense, with a more data driven recruitment process, that players with similar profiles will be mentioned as potential Rangers targets and Josh Doig and Fredrick Oppegard look almost identical on paper.
Koppen will know Oppegard better whilst Doig will already have been scouted and have a profile somewhere in a filing cabinet in Auchenhowie.
The biggest difference between the two players is an obvious one – nearly six inches to be precise – with the former Hibs defender now standing at an impressive 6ft 3inches tall, bizarrely though, Oppegard has a higher aerial percentage win recently.
Philippe Clement does like taller players though and having a full-back with this sort of height can make set-pieces at both ends of the park more effective.
Doig would also be the common sense target given his status as a home grown player, an area where the Rangers squad is particularly short of numbers.
As always, it will come down to finances and who is available and whether or not Rangers can make space too.
On this occasion though, despite the numbers suggesting otherwise, there should only be one choice.
