Tam McManus blasts Rangers man Robin Propper as Leon Balogun claim made

Tam McManus has "not been impressed" by Rangers summer signing Robin Propper and believes veteran Leon Balogun remains the best centre-back at the club.

Propper was brought to Ibrox during the recent transfer window for a £2.7million fee from FC Twente [Transfermarkt], and has so far largely kept 36-year-old Balogun out the side.

Former Hibernian and Dundee forward McManus argued that the veteran Nigeria international is a better alternative in the side and that he remains unconvinced by the Dutchman.

Speaking on the PLZ Football Show [11 September, 24:42], he said: "They've not played Balogun - they've bought Propper, and I've not been impressed so far with him.

"I think Balogun is Rangers' best centre-half, still, at doing the basics, defending."

Rangers spark criticism over Robin Propper

Rangers are looking to build their defence after coming up short last season, but it remains easy to see how much they are found wanting when rivalling Celtic.

The notion of merely concentrating on themselves as a club and holding no focus towards their bitter city rivals is difficult when they have just met in the first Old Firm of the season, and even more so when Brendan Rodgers' side were better in every department.

It will be a bitter pill to swallow for Philippe Clement, but hardly a shock to the system. The club have spent money - although not to the extent some sections of the fanbase would like to have seen - and Propper has arrived with a seven-figure price tag whilst failing to inspire with his early performances.

Alongside several players who hold future potential and a possible lucrative resale value, Propper is a player bought for the here and now - he is 30 and has over 350 senior games under his belt spanning over 12 years.

The fee paid means Clement is bound to persist with him a while longer, whilst Balogun - certainly far from one for the future - is left to play a bit-part role.

In other Rangers news, potential remains for James Tavernier to leave Ibrox this week.

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