Michael Beale to use Aston Villa contacts for Rangers January signings as four new arrivals mooted – pundit
We’re delighted to welcome Tam McManus as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Tam McManus has tipped Michael Beale to use his contacts at Aston Villa and Liverpool to help bolster the squad at Rangers in the January transfer window.
Beale, 42, was appointed as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s successor at Ibrox earlier this week and there’s no doubt planning underway for the upcoming window.
Rangers are nine points behind Celtic, out of Europe and face the possibility of losing half of their squad next summer when contracts and loan deals come to an end.
Beale coached at Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa ahead of taking the manager’s job at QPR before his move to Rangers.
McManus believes Beale may retain links to those clubs to help add to the squad he’s inherited in the January window.
“Beale’s worked at plenty of clubs and I’m sure he’ll have some contacts, especially in England,” McManus told Ibrox News.
“I think he’s got to freshen the team up. When you look at the Rangers team, you’ve got to bring in a bit of zest and a bit of energy.
“Beale should have contacts at Liverpool so there might be younger players at Anfield not playing and there may be some at Aston Villa.
“First things first, he’ll want to look at the squad and evaluate who he wants to keep and who he wants to let go and then I think Rangers have got to bring three or four players in to strengthen in January.
“It adds energy to bring players in, it gives the fans a lift.”
Rangers have big-name players like Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos going out of contract at the end of the season while it remains to be seen if options will be paid up to buy Malik Tillman and James Sands.
In other Rangers news, a former Ibrox chief has slammed the current board for their decision to hire Beale.