Rangers transfer priority shared by Stevie Clifford after Philippe Clement discussions

Philippe Clement needs to sign a defensive midfielder in January after speaking about how his Rangers side play, according to Stevie Clifford.

Speaking on The Rangers Review (8 October), the Four Lads Had a Dream podcaster said that after speaking to the manager, it's clear that the club desperately need a number six in midfield.

Mohamed Diomande and Conor Barron were both signed permanently in the summer transfer window, but Clifford argued that the Light Blues need to prioritise an out-and-out defensive midfielder.

He said: "I think you need a six.

"How we play under Clement – I spoke to him a lot about his structure and being wide open on the break, I spoke about that with Clement last week.

"Is that because he doesn't have that dedicated number six that he wants and is a priority?"

Philippe Clement transfer priority can unlock Rangers potential

Clement had issues aplenty to address as he led a huge overhaul of the Light Blues squad this summer, but the failure to find a seasoned, deep-lying midfielder was one of the major boxes left unticked.

While the likes of Liam Kelly and Clinton Nsiala are yet to play a senior minute this season, one new signing who has played almost every single one is Barron, after arriving on a free transfer from Aberdeen.

The 22-year-old has featured in every single match across all competitions so far, but his ability to marshal the entire midfield line has been called into question after some high-profile mistakes of late.

A largely inexperienced free transfer was hardly expected to be an ever-present, and with Barron being just that so far, it's clear that a gaping hole remains in defensive midfield.

If a top-class number six can be found, signed and brought up to speed in January, a weight of pressure will be lifted off Barron's shoulders and allow him to blossom into a superb number eight.

In other Rangers news, one Ibrox regular poses a "huge problem" for Clement after what he did v St Johnstone on 6 October.

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