Rangers transfer update: Michael Beale reveals multiple attack signings on the cards amid Antonio Colak future verdict
Micheal Beale wants Antonio Colak to compete with new signings at Rangers as he revealed he is planning to bring in as many as three attacking players this summer.
The Croatian scored the third as the Gers completed their season with a 3-0 victory in Paisley against St Mirren on Saturday (27 May), but has struggled to feature since Beale replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst and has been mooted as a possible summer sale.
But Beale wants to see Colak properly overcome injury after only previously having him fully fit when he was “fantastic” in the 4-1 win at Hibs on 9 March, but admitted he there will be increased competition in the preseason with new signings on the way.
Following the final game of the season Beale said, via Rangers Review: “For me, into the summer, there will be more forwards coming in, we’re losing Ryan [Kent] and Alfredo [Morelos], we’ve not had Kemar Roofe or Tom Lawrence.
“That’s some loss to us over the season at different times. It’s important we recruit two or three players in those positions and Tony, we want him here to fight it out, have a good pre-season and come back.
“Last year going into the season I thought his form was fantastic looking outside as a fan. I’ve not quite seen that player since I’ve been here for different reasons.”
Not committed
Colak started the campaign looking like he might be the signing of the season, and his total return of 18 goals in all competitions is pretty solid, but only four came under Beale.
A midseason absence through injury came at the worst time as the new manager’s reign was getting underway, and Morelos was preferred more often than not down the stretch despite widely being expected to head for an exit that has now been confirmed.
New attacking recruits are a must with Kent and Morelos leaving, but if Colak doesn’t suit the way the manager wants to play he might not be ready to stay if he is only going to be second or third choice.
It surely won’t be cheap to bring multiple attacking signings through the doors at Ibrox so, despite suggesting he wants him in the mix come preseason, it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Beale accept an offer or Colak to leave if it came in.
The turnover is sure to be significant this summer, but quite how many targets the manager can land and how much money he has to do it with will only become clear in the coming weeks.
It is bound to be a new-look attacking unit when the new season kicks off, and it sounds like there is a place within the set up for Colak if he wants to fight for it, but with no guarantees it remains to be seen whether he will be there on the other side of the summer.
In other Rangers news, one Light Blues player was compared to a European legend after what he did in the win over St Mirren.