Goals win games but it is clean sheets that can win titles. Having addressed one issue this summer, Michael Beale must now focus on the other in what remains of the transfer window.
The additions made from middle to front have given Rangers fresh blood and a new impetus. The sums spent to secure Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers are significant, and further cash will be invested to complete the signing of Danilo from Feyenoord in a deal that will be worth more than £5million.
Jose Cifuentes, the Los Angeles FC midfielder, will also arrive for a fee, while Abdallah Sima has been brought in on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. The other midfield addition, Kieran Dowell, was a free transfer from Norwich City.
The deals for Danilo and Cifuentes will take the number of new arrivals to nine at Ibrox. The one after that could prove to be the most significant if Beale makes signing ten his first pick at centre-back.
Supporters will hope that the guile and goals that were so noticeably missing from the side last season have been added as a result of the recruitment drive in midfield and attack. The problems at the back cannot be overlooked, though.
The capture of Jack Butland looks a shrewd move as he succeeds Allan McGregor between the sticks. On the right, captain James Tavernier is all-but assured of his place, although he will face greater competition now that Dujon Sterling has been brought on board from Chelsea.
One of the remaining three spots will be filled by Connor Goldson when he returns from injury, while it would be a surprise if Ridvan Yilmaz is not given the nod to start at left-back. Another shaky showing in the defeat to Olympiacos on Wednesday evening did little for Borna Barisic’s standing with the Ibrox crowd.
Yet it is the other centre-back berth that is the most pressing concern right now. If Beale is going to go back into the market, that is the area of the side that requires attention.
Interest in Jonathan Panzo, the Nottingham Forest defender, and Arsenal’s Auston Trusty has been long-standing. When Leon King was injured during the trip to Germany earlier this month, a quickfire deal for Leon Balogun made sense and ticked the right boxes.
The veteran is not the long-term solution to a long-standing problem. He does, however, know what it takes to win titles and the man that was an integral part of the 55 win has spoken about the relationship with Goldson and the mentality required at a club that will demand silverware this term.
Rangers broke historic clean sheet records and conceded just 13 goals on their way to that triumph as Beale and Steven Gerrard masterminded an invincible Premiership campaign. Even coming close to replicating that feat will be quite the task, but it shows what is possible when the personnel and the approach are right.
The team with the best defensive record has been crowned as champions in every season since the top flight was rebranded as the Premiership. The only anomaly was the Covid campaign as Celtic conceded 19 times from their 30 matches compared to the 19 Rangers lost in 29 outings and the title was awarded on a points-per-game basis.
Since that record-breaking season in 2021/22, Rangers have lost 31 goals and 37 goals respectively as they failed to defend their crown or win it back. Their tally last term was the highest since their first two years back in the division as they conceded 44 and 50 times in those barren campaigns.
There is, then, plenty of room for improvement. The work that Beale does on the training ground will account for a large percentage of any progress that is made, yet there is a feeling that it will require further personnel changes for Rangers to take the defensive strides required.
As it stands, John Souttar looks to be the most accomplished partner for Goldson and the Scotland defender is a fine fit in terms of style and substance. There are, however, questions to be answered over how robust he can be over the course of a campaign.
When it comes to Ben Davies, the queries are different. Many remain unconvinced by the Englishman and the arrival of another defender this summer would surely spell the end of his Ibrox career after a solitary, unspectacular season.
Rangers should be able to recoup most of the £4million that was paid to Liverpool last summer and Davies finds himself with doubters to win over. With each passive performance that is produced, the narrative that the money could be better spent strengthens.
Beale, then, has decisions to make. If he sticks, he must raise the individual and collective levels. If he twists, he must find the right fit to compliment and enhance.
The rebuild has largely focused on the top end of the park. Now he must lay the foundations for his side, and for Rangers’ title bid.
