Philippe Clement set for ‘hell of a summer’ with heavy Rangers transfer business on the cards
Philippe Clement is set for a “hell of a summer” in the transfer market at Rangers as the club gear up for a major overhaul for the second year running, says Derek Ferguson.
The ex-Ibrox favourite is expecting “such a transformation” of the squad as the Belgian looks to address the deficiencies that are threatening to see his title bid come up short, including an answer to the problem position of left-back.
Dujon Sterling, the man who has proven to be one of the go-to answers to any issue in the Light Blues line-up in recent months, has been required to fill in at the back with Ridvan Yilmaz out injured, but that is just one position Ferguson expects the manager to focus on in the upcoming window.
Michael Beale was tasked to stage a significant overhaul at Ibrox a year ago, but barely reached October before being sacked, and while Clement successfully revived the campaign he is expected to make extensive changes still.
Ferguson exclusively told Ibrox News: “[Left-back is] a position we need to sort out, because it’s been a problem with us playing Sterling in there while Yilmaz has been out, I don’t think it suits him. He needs to be in middle of the park or higher up the park to be more effective in the games.
“I tell you what, Philippe Clement is going to have a hell of a summer once this season’s over because there’s a bit of dead wood in there as well that he’s going to need to get rid of.
“Again, it’s like last season, there’s going to be such a transformation in that squad so a big summer for Philippe Clement.”
Rangers set for second overhaul after Michael Beale failure
Clement’s work has actually proven Beale’s business from last summer less of a catastrophe than it appeared when the Englishman was fired, with Sterling himself becoming one of the success stories.
But despite the advances made by Cyriel Dessers striker still needs addressing, while the top winger in Abdallah Sima is both on loan and injured.
Sterling and Clement’s January signing Mohamed Diomande may be the starting midfield going forward in a unit expected to see multiple departures, while the defence looks as unsettled as ever and Jack Butland is almost guaranteed to attract big-money offers.
Selling the keeper would fund plenty of other business but come as a major blow while the likes of Sam Lammers leaving should bring in much-needed cash, but with left-back solutions and a long-awaited move for Lawrence Shankland potentially top of the agenda the to-do list isn’t going to be cheap.
In other Rangers news, a Clement exit claim from a “controversial” journalist has been blasted as “absolute nonsense”.
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