Anthony Onifade

Tue 1 August 2023 11:10, UK

The countdown to Glen Kamara’s departure from Rangers is well and truly on but the Light Blues must swiftly bring an end to the saga in order to fund a critical move for Jonathan Panzo.

According to the Scottish Daily Mail journalist Mark Wilson (1 August), Kamara’s exit from Ibrox is no longer a matter of if but when and where, as Rangers look to raise around £5m for his signature.

The story states that Kamara staying at Rangers beyond the transfer deadline would be in neither his nor the club’s best interests, with Championship outfit Leeds United lying in wait to sign him as well as clubs in France and Turkey.

The Daily Record print edition reported on 31 July (back page and page 49) Rangers boss Michael Beale has decided to isolate the 27-year-old midfielder as he isn’t in his first-team plans for the upcoming campaign and seemed to confirm that Kamara is in talks with other clubs regarding a move.

With Rangers currently undergoing a major rebuild right now, fresh off securing their eighth signing of the summer in Danilo, Beale and the top brass at Ibrox are reportedly desperate to balance that out with several departures, and Kamara had emerged as one of the names at the top of the exodus list.

It’s certainly a shame how sour Kamara’s time at Ibrox has turned out.

The Finnish midfielder was a favourite during Steven Gerrard’s time at the club and played a key part as they won the Scottish Premiership during the 2020/21 campaign, making 33 league appearances for the club, averaging 78.3 minutes per game, as well as playing ten times in the Europa League.

However, fast forward just under two years later and Kamara emerged as a bit-part player under both Giovanni Van Bronckhurst and Beale, making just 22 league appearances for Rangers with many of those appearances coming off the bench starting just one game since the club’s League Cup final loss against Celtic in February.

With the Scottish Premiership campaign just days away from restarting, the Gers can ill afford to be embroiled in an exit saga, especially for a player as big as Kamara. Rangers must bring his time at Ibrox to a swift end, to ensure the squad is well-prepared mentally, without uncertainties, for the new season ahead.

And given the potential £5m cash boost, the Rangers bosses will be laughing to the bank especially considering Kamara is no longer needed under Beale’s tutelage.

That money could be well spent elsewhere and one key area that certainly needs addressing is at centre-back, and an exciting £2.5m Panzo transfer awaits for the Gers.

Football Scotland reported on 10 July that Rangers are still in the market for a centre-back aware of what it takes to sign the former on-loan Coventry defender, but the Light Blues are yet to push for him ahead of the new campaign.

On 15 July, Football Scotland reported that the Gers are still in talks for the Forest defender, with a £2.5m move enough to get the deal done this summer.

“Football Scotland understands the switch has not advanced much further this week with Gers still aware of the £2.5million fee it is likely to take to land the Englishman.

It’s not a surprise to read that Beale still wants Panzo in central defence when you consider the circumstances in which Balogun was brought back to the club.

As it stands Connor Goldson, John Souttar, Ben Davies and Balogun are the central defender options but the latter is 36 years old, while the other three have all had their share of injury issues in recent times.

Rangers’ need for a durable, reliable and injury-free central defensive addition is clear and it is why they must bring Kamara’s exit to a swift conclusion so they can fund a move for the centre-back they desperately need.

Panzo is certainly that man and could prove the icing on the cake of what’s been an outstanding summer of recruitment from Beale and the Light Blues.

In other Rangers news, first-team player told to pack his bags at Ibrox and find a new club.