Rangers set for exits after transfer blitz as Michael Beale wants tight group, Glen Kamara, Antonio Colak, Scott Wright and Ianis Hagi at risk
Rangers will soon seek to “trim the size of the squad” amid extensive additions at Ibrox so far this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
The sixth signing of the summer is imminent in the form of Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers, with the move set to be sealed Tuesday (4 July) according to Fabrizio Romano, and deals are still being pursued for Jonathan Panzo and Jose Cifuentes.
Five first-team players left as their contracts expired but with eight new arrivals in total on the cards the Gers need to let some more names go.
According to the Mail report Michael Beale is “eager to run with a tighter group next term”, meaning four current Ibrox figures could yet be sold.
All of Antonio Colak, Ianis Hagi, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright are in line for exits if “suitable offers” are received during the transfer window as downsizing looks set to become the priority after strong incoming business.
Clear out
Bringing the numbers down at Ibrox might seem like a risk strategy given the extensive injury issues among the first team squad over the past year.
But plenty of managers prefer a lean playing staff and Chelsea’s chaotic exploits last season proved why to the extreme as their bloated number proved too much for Graham Potter or Frank Lampard to handle.
Rangers aren’t anywhere near that level but if there are first-team players with little in the way of opportunities for the coming season it doesn’t do them or the club any good to have them kicking around Auchenhowie not playing.
Kamara has long been mooted as the prime option to bring in some transfer revenue, with interest thought to be present from multiple countries, while Hagi is somewhat of an unknown quantity as he still hasn’t made it back to his best following a year out with injury and is now wanted in Italy.
Colak looks like being the odd man out with Dessers on the way in on top of Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima, with a possible pursuit of Danilo still on the cards.
It is unfortunate for the Croatian since he didn’t really do anything wrong last season apart from struggle for fitness after the managerial change, but if he isn’t Beale’s type of player there is little he can do about that.
Wright’s chances were pretty infrequent last season as it is and it is hard to see that improving much next term, so while links to a Preston North End move appear to have died off he is surely available for a pretty modest price.
In other Rangers news, a fifth name linked to an exit has reacted to the news that he is available to leave.