It won’t have taken Gio van Bronckhorst long to work out that patience is a virtue in short supply in Glasgow.
The lack of early movement in the transfer market had the angsty Ibrox support flapping harder than some of those Love Island lads discovering their girls were being eyed up by the latest muscle-bound newcomer into the villa. Reassurance eventually came, however, when Rangers boss van Bronckhorst dragged Ross Wilson for a chat and together, they’ve embarked on a swift round of speed dating that has resulted in the Light Blues coupling up with seven new recruits.
Parting ways with last year’s key men Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo had the potential for a painful break-up. But with around £30million now banked this summer, Rangers have been able to inject some fresh new blood into a squad where relations looked in danger of going stale domestically last term as their Europa League exertions pushed them to the limit. Excitement is now building around Ibrox ahead of Saturday’s Premiership curtain-raiser at Livingston.
And here Record Sport takes a closer look at the state of play in the Rangers squad as they aim to dump Celtic from Scottish football’s top spot.
Goalkeepers
Allan McGregor has opted to sign on for another season but the big question still to be settled is whether he will remain Ibrox No.1. The 40-year-old has proven himself a man for the big occasion so many times down the years but mistakes against Hearts, Motherwell and Ross County last year saw Rangers spill vital points as Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops snatched the title.
Jon McLaughlin has waited patiently these past two years for his chance and the expectation is he’ll be given more action this time round. The former Hearts and Sunderland keeper may not have the shot-stopping prowess of his rival but is a more commanding figure coming for crosses and happier with the ball at feet. But will GVB be prepared to declare him his first-choice man between the sticks or will he have to take it in turns with McGregor? We’ll get our first indication at Almondvale this weekend.
Defence
Gers’ Dutch boss headed into the summer fearing he may have to find himself a brand new central defensive pairing with Connor Goldson out of contract and Calvin Bassey attracting major interest. So Goldson’s decision to sign for four more years has saved his Dutch boss one big job. The rock-solid Englishman has proved to be the cornerstone of all the club’s recent successes and retaining his influence will be of huge encouragement to his manager.
Powerhouse stopper Bassey may have moved on to Ajax after his stunning breakthrough campaign but the club record £20million sale has allowed van Bronckhorst to reinvest in not one but two impressive looking replacements. Ben Davies was so highly rated at Preston that Celtic were desperate to sign him before Liverpool beat them to his signature while Turkish left-back Ridvan Yilmaz was linked with Spurs earlier this year.
Centre-back John Souttar has also arrived on a free from Hearts and his knowledge of the Scottish game may yet see him get the nod this weekend as Davies settles in, while Borna Barisic seems to have reacted to the arrival of Yilmaz by upping his pre-season performances. Filip Helander’s fitness issues remain a worry for van Bronckhorst but agreeing a new deal with skipper James Tavernier would be another shot in the arm ahead of the new season.
Midfield
Just like Bassey’s departure, van Bronckhorst has taken the approach of why sign one when you can bring in two to replace Joe Aribo.
The Nigerian playmaker was the man who gave the Ibrox faithful 12 minutes of ecstasy with his goal against Eintract Frankfurt in Seville but he’s provided the Gers coffers with another immediate £6million injection after joining Southampton, with the promise of more to come in the shape of add-ons. In his place have come Tom Lawrence on a free from Derby while Malik Tillman will have a year to earn himself a permanent Ibrox switch after arriving on a loan deal from Bayern Munich that includes “an exclusive option to buy”.
Just what the duo’s signings mean for promising academy kid Alex Lowry is still to be seen but the brief glimpses he showed last year certainly merit more game time this term. While Lawrence and Tillman scrap it out for the No.10 slot, there are five players in the fight for the two central midfield roles behind them.
John Lundstram appears to be a stick on for a start but Ryan Jack will be hoping a full pre-season will see overcome the stamina issues that limited him at times on his return from a year-long injury nightmare. Glen Kamara has a point to prove after failing to hit his usual standards last season while veterans Scott Arfield and Steven Davis will continue to offer experience after signing one-year extensions.
Upfront
Rangers finished the season having to play Aribo as a makeshift frontman as injuries bit but the good news for van Bronckhorst is he has signed Antonio Colak as cover for talisman Alfredo Morelos, who is back in training after his four-month injury lay-off and in talks over a new deal.
Getting the Colombian to agree fresh terms might represent the summer’s best bit of business as far as the Ibrox legions are concerned. Mind you, Rabbi Matondo could have something to say about that after sealing a £1.8million move from Schalke.
The Wales winger has given a few snapshots of his rapid pace and quality down the flanks in Gers’ pre-season tune-ups against West Ham and Spurs and if he and Ryan Kent can match the kind of numbers produced by Celtic’s wingmen Jota and Liel Abada, we’ll be in for some shoot-out next term. Kemar Roofe’s involvement remains in doubt amid rumours of a loan away but he has shown he can be a big contributor, so long as he stays fit.
Fringe men
Niko Katic has returned from a season-long loan at Hadjuk Split but the Croatian cult-figure is likely to find himself along Jack Simpson on the list of those surplus to requirements.
Gers have already cut dead-wood figures Jake Hastie and Cedric Itten this summer and they are likely to be followed by the likes of Stephen Kelly and Glenn Middleton as van Bronckhorst clears room for promising youngsters like Lowry, Adam Devine and Charlie McCann.
Verdict
Squad stronger than last season.
