Tam McManus shares Rangers concern after transfer window closes
Tam McManus is concerned about the lack of wide options available to Rangers and says being without Danilo is “a huge blow”.
Summer signing Danilo was ruled out for four months in December with a knee injury he sustained against Hearts.
Rangers signed attacking pair Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes in the January window, as well as midfielder Mohamed Diomande, but McManus believes they still lack options.
“When you look at the top of the pitch, Silva is still to settle and the pressure is really on Cyriel Dessers to get the goals,” McManus said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show [2 February, 20:51].
“He’s done well of late, but I think they need Danilo back sooner rather than later.”
Asked if Rangers’ squad is capable of overhauling Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, McManus said: “Time will tell. That’s not great options in terms of wingers.
“They could have done with a right-sider and there’s a reliance on Dessers. Silva is not an out-and-out goalscorer – I watched him against Hibs and he likes to drift. Sima’s a huge blow – 10 or 15 goals out of the team.”
Rangers relying on Cyriel Dessers
Phillipe Clement currently has Ross McCausland and Scott Wright to call upon wide on the right, while Rabbi Matondo and Cortes are his options on the other flank.
Those are hardly the most inspiring of options, even if each of those – barring newbie Cortes, who has arrived on loan from Lens – have had their moments in the spotlight for the Gers this season.
In terms of the striking options, Rangers basically have just Dessers to call upon, as Silva is not a pure goalscorer, Danilo is out and Kemar Roofe just cannot stay fit.
That is why supporters were disappointed there was no move for Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland during the January transfer window.
Still, Clement has worked wonders with the squad he inherited from Michael Beale and he has now added a few more players, so there is no reason why the Gers cannot trump Celtic in the coming weeks.
In other Rangers news, Alisson McConnell has named a Gers player she believes would make it into the Celtic XI.
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