It is no secret that Philippe Clement’s Rangers squad is a little unbalanced.
So many potential left-wing options, relatively few on the right. A lack of cover at right-back, but six first-team central defensive options when everyone is fully fit and available.
One area where the Rangers roster does look solid and secure, however, is in the centre of the park.
The ‘outstanding’ Nico Raskin is playing the best football of his Ibrox career – his remarkable ball-winning statistics making the Belgian something akin to Glasgow’s answer to N’Golo Kante – while Mohamed Diomande’s form has kept Connor Barron out of Philippe Clement’s starting XI in recent weeks.
Yet, all the noises coming out of Ibrox this month suggest that a midfielder – rather than a new right-back or perhaps a long-term Cyriel Dessers replacement – is the priority before the February deadline.
Rangers are reportedly leading the race for Dundee’s Lyall Cameron.
The Glasgow giants feel that they can land the Scotland Under-21 international for a similar fee they paid Aberdeen for Barron, with Cameron’s contract expiring in the summer.
Gordon Dalziel not convinced by Rangers signing Lyall Cameron
With eight goals and seven assists for Tony Docherty’s side, Cameron is blossoming into one of the most complete midfielders in the Premiership.
Former Ibrox stalwart Andy Halliday wants Rangers to sign Cameron and Dundee teammate Josh Mulligan. A testament to just how rapidly the one-time Peterhead duo have honed their considerable talents.
But, is Cameron really the sort of the addition that would help reduce the gap between second and first in the Premiership table? Would he be anything more than a useful squad player on the blue side of the city?
Gordon Dalziel, who started his career with the Gers in the 1970s, has his doubts. He feels that Cameron would be at risk of going from a Dundee starter to a Rangers benchwarmer, especially with Clement clearly setting on Raskin and Diomande as his first-choice central pairing.
“I think Cameron is a real good player,” Dalziel says. “But is he going to walk into the Rangers team at the minute? He’s in the same bracket as Barron is now.
“Right now, probably [Diomande is better than Cameron]. I think Rangers in the middle of the park, especially at home [are strong].”
Cameron has won over ex-Ibrox ace Derek Ferguson
Derek Ferguson would love to see Josh Mulligan join Rangers, and he a big admirer of Cameron too.
The one-time Gers attacker is not yet certain if Dundee’s number ten could make the step up, but he does like his eye for goal and his fighting spirit.
And, for all of Rangers’ qualities in the centre of the park, neither Raskin, Diomande or Barron are particularly prolific in the final third.
“It’s hard to say [if Cameron could succeed at Rangers],” Ferguson muses. “If you surround him with better players…
“I tell you what I like about Cameron, he’s got a goal in him. When he gets into the box, he’s not the biggest but, I’ll tell you what, he doesn’t shirk anything.”
In addition to Cameron, Rangers were credited with an interest in Leon Belcar of NK Varazdin. He signed a new contract at the Croatian outfit this month, however.
Rangers were offered the chance to sign Marko Soldo too, but the Osijek dynamo is considered too expensive even at just £2.5 million.
