Rangers set for major surgery as Cyriel Dessers among only six players to keep in Ibrox exodus
Jack Butland leads a list of only six Rangers players who Derek Ferguson would plan to keep this summer as “major surgery” is predicted at Ibrox.
Kris Boyd suggested as many as 15 players could leave the club this summer [Scottish Sun, 19 April] with Philippe Clement set to implement an overhaul of a squad which has ceded the title initiative to Celtic from a strong position.
And ex-Gers midfielder Ferguson agrees there are likely to be extensive departures as the Belgian negotiations his first summer transfer window at the club.
Among the current permanent members of the Rangers playing staff he sees only star keeper Butland and January arrival Mohamed Diomande as definite targets to remain in place, although there is some uncertainty over the future of the former with big-money bids expected when the market opens.
After that Ferguson named captain James Tavernier, centre-back John Souttar, left-back Ridvan Yilmaz and striker Cyriel Dessers as viable building blocks for next season’s side, although he acknowledged questions around all four on fitness and consistency grounds.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News he said: “Well, Butland. I don’t want him going anywhere. Tavernier is an interesting one because Tav’s been brilliant for us in terms of his goals.
“But he was off it a wee bit the couple of games against Ross County and Dundee, but he’s come back to form and shown what he’s all about [vs St Mirren].
“What he’s done for us I’d be keeping Tavernier as well, and certainly we’ve got Diomande in the middle of the park. I love his energy and I love his quality as well, he’s another one [to keep].
“And then you start to look about and think, ‘Well, who else is in there who is nailed on that you would keep?’
“Then it starts to become a bit of a worry. John Souttar, I know he had that mad 15 minutes against Hearts when I think he thought he was still playing for them even though he was in a Rangers jersey, he lost the plot.
“[But] I’d still keep John because John’s a ball-playing centre-back, he’s got a physicality about him, just a wee bit rash at times, he’s got a wee bit of pace.
“So Butland, Souttar, Tav, if you’ve got a fit Ridvan Yilmaz then probably, Diomande in the middle of the park, and Dessers as well, I would maybe keep and work with him.
“But apart from that yeah, that’s it. If Boydy’s saying 15 I’d say yeah, there’s going to be a big clear out. Major surgery is needed to that Rangers squad.”
Philippe Clement set for extensive Rangers clear out
Even the six named players could, in theory, be available for the right offer while more than just them will likely stay, but Rangers find themselves in the odd situation of still being able to win a domestic treble but with such an unsettled squad that most could be gone by next year.
The Light Blues are only a season removed from Michael Beale’s overhaul last summer which was supposed to herald a new era at Ibrox where the club were ready to overturn Celtic but only succeeded in getting him sacked by October.
Clement seemingly had managed to pick up the pieces and claw back a substantial deficit to go top, while collecting the Viaplay Cup along the way, but a crucial loss of form has left the title requiring a win at Parkhead and a significant swing in goal difference to be possible, before an Old Firm Scottish Cup final.
Many in the squad are probably playing for their Rangers careers in the final few games, with few certainties over who the manager will have available next season.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have demanded an SPFL rival pay them thousands of pounds.
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