BBC Sport pundit Alan Hutton drops Josh Doig verdict amid Rangers transfer links
BBC Sport pundit Alan Hutton thinks Josh Doig would do a “really good job” at Rangers amid links with a move to Ibrox.
The Light Blues have been registered with an interest in the Hellas Verona full-back, though Football Scotland reported via Alfredo Pedulla (10 January) that Marseille had entered the race with a £4.3million bid and Rangers may be priced out.
With the futures of Borna Barisic and Ridman Yilvaz up in the air, former Rangers full-back Hutton says the club need more options at left-back and that Doig would be an excellent addition.
In quotes reported by Sky Sports (9 January), he said: “I thought that he was a player that both teams in Glasgow would have looked at before he left.
“He had all the attributes to be a modern-day full-back – physically strong, can get up and down the pitch, an attacking full-back and that’s how Rangers like to play.
“He would come back a better player having played in Italy and you’d think defensively, he would be learning week in, week out. I think he would do a really good job.
“It looks like Barisic will be out of contract at the end of the season. Yilmaz was looking like the guy who was going to take over from him but he has been a little bit in and out. But he has had some really good performances the last few games.
“It was interesting to watch him against Kilmarnock. He played a little more inside the pitch. He has come on to a game and if he was to go, they have to bring someone in.”
Tough one to make happen
There is absolutely no denying that Hutton is right with his assessment of Doig, who is a player that both Old Firm clubs probably let slip through the net in all honesty and he is now a man in demand with Torino and Udinese said to be amont his suitors.
With Marseille also now in the hunt, it is becoming an increasingly difficult deal for Rangers to complete now and the sort of money it would take to get thim you have to think is above the club’s remit especially given they have other areas to strengthen.
It does pose a little bit of a problem for Clement because it is hard to see Barisic or Yilmaz having much of a future at Ibrox. It is hard to imagine both – if either – will be granted permission to leave if a replacement is not found.
The likelihood of that replacement being Doig, though, seems a little fanciful as things stand and the more clubs who are showing interest the less likely it becomes as his price will keep getting driven up.
In other Rangers news, a “concrete” update has emerged with the Light Blues interested in Michy Batshuayi.