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Rangers transfer news as Michael Beales shares summer plans to strengthen at centre-back
Rangers boss Michael Beale has revealed he is looking to strengthen his options at centre-back ahead of a crucial summer transfer window for the club.
Beale is expected to be very busy in the summer transfer window, with Rangers linked with a long list of players over the coming months.
The Scottish Sun reported on 12 May that Rangers have all but completed deals for Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland on free transfers this summer and are also said to be close to signing Chelsea youngster Dujon Sterling also.
However, speaking ahead of this Sunday’s clash with Hibernian at Easter Road [via Rangers official Twitter page, 21 May], Beale provided promising news for the Gers fans, confirming he is looking to add to his options at centre-back – a key area to strengthen.
He said: “John Souttar has been great, we have discussed the idea of three at the back.
“We will add to this area in the summer to give us even more competition for places.”
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Desperately needed
We’ve seen in the recent past how lacklustre Rangers have been without Connor Goldson’s presence at the back, with both Ben Davies and John Souttar giving away cheap goals through terrible and needless errors in defence.
There’s also the option of academy product Leon King too, but Beale has seemed reluctant in recent weeks to hand him a shot, but could he opt to start him in the remaining four games with virtually nothing to play for?
Despite his crucial importance to the team and Beale, Goldson’s recurring injury troubles in recent months have become a worrying theme for the club which could mean that Beale can no longer rely on him to start every week next season.
Rangers must consider signing a durable and quality replacement because the 30-year-old isn’t getting any younger. The best clubs across the continent always recruit to replace in the long term and that is a model Rangers should be following.
Goldson simply can’t play throughout a 40+ game season any longer which forces Beale to start seeking out long-term replacements for next season, locating a player capable of immediately coming in and providing a swift impact.
Right now, Beale’s centre-back options look depleted on paper. Rangers fans will be delighted to hear that he has plans to strengthen the position for next season.
In other Rangers news, one Gers ace will leave and likely move abroad because he isn’t getting enough game time to warrant staying, according to Peter Grant.