Rangers: Philippe Clement could make wholesale changes after collapse in £40m transfer verdict
Philippe Clement will look to strengthen his Rangers defence in the transfer market above all this summer with wholesale changes on the cards, says Barry Ferguson.
The former Ibrox captain said live on Go Radio’s Football Show on 15 April that there will be work done all over the squad at the end of the season no matter what happens, and amid a concerning dip in form that has seen the Gers only win two of their past seven games in all competitions he says the back line is sure to need work.
But after the shock defeat at Ross County threatened to derail the title challenge at the weekend Ferguson admitted he has no idea what money will be available if Clement’s side don’t finish top and get the Champions League cash that would come with it, as he highlighted the importance of reviving the challenge.
Ferguson said, via Football Scotland: “I think there’s going to be changes, if Rangers win the league or they don’t. I think the manager will go to try and strengthen the team and the squad.
“But that depends on winning it, you’ve got the £40million. And if they don’t win it I have not got a clue what type of money will be made available but I think he will go and try and strengthen.
“Not just the defensive side of it, I think he’ll look all over the pitch. Whether that’s a central midfielder, centre forward, a wide player. But certainly the defence is an area I think he’ll look to strengthen.”
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For the majority of his time in charge at Ibrox Clement has been able to galvanise this Gers side to be more than the sum of their parts, while bringing about major improvements from various players.
But if the Belgian was getting more than expected for plenty of weeks he is now seeing some worrying reversions to some of the weakest points in the past few seasons.
Connor Goldson has been off form for some time, and although the options in central defence aren’t especially glowing there is surely an argument to bring Leon Balogun in even if he isn’t long for Ibrox at the age of 35.
Ridvan Yilmaz’s injury came at a terrible time, in a season where fitness issues have been an endless theme, Cyriel Dessers’ is not a number one striker for all he has his merits and has improved, and the sudden drop off in John Lundstram’s form is even more stark than its revival after Clement arrived and potentially has a bearing on his lack of new deal.
It was only a few weeks ago that James Tavernier was regularly being praised for his outstanding achievements, but after his nightmare start to the Old Firm derby last week he looks a mile off his best and needs to improve immediately.
A busy transfer market was always likely given Clement has only made one permanent signing since taking over a squad that was heading the wrong way fast under Michael Beale, but if a potential treble charge fizzles out in the home straight it could lead to another major overhaul.
Inconsistency in some players can be masked when the unit is functioning strongly, but if too many are boom and bust operators it risks the whole side going off the boil, and that is arguably the issue now.
In other Rangers news, a Lawrence Shankland verdict has come out on the BBC ahead of the latest clash with Hearts.
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