Martin now wants Rangers to sign player once dubbed ‘fantastic’ by Thelwell
Russell Martin has taken over as Rangers manager and will be calling the shots in the upcoming transfer window.
After finishing a staggering 17 points behind Celtic, the Ibrox outfit want a productive summer to bridge the gap and challenge for the title.
Kevin Thelwell has also joined from Everton and will be playing a key role in shaping the squad for the future.
Conor Coady now on the transfer radar for Gers
Martin has wasted little time in getting to work at Ibrox and has already drawn up his list of transfer targets along with Thelwell.
He will have learnt his mistakes from his sack at Southampton this past season and the Premier League experience will come in handy.
According to the Record (6 June), Gers are weighing up a move for Leicester City defender Conor Coady this summer.
| Competition | Appearances (Sub) | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Passing Accuracy (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 19 (3) | 1714 | 1 | – | 3 | – | 91.5 |
The 32-year-old has a year left on his deal at the King Power Stadium but his future is uncertain at Leicester given doubts over who the manager will be for next season.
His side also got relegated to the Championship so he may want to play top-flight and European football while challenging for trophies.
Thelwell is also understood to be a fan of the England international as they were at Everton at the same time.
He said: “Coady came in the building and was a fantastic professional. It would have been very easy for us to sign Conor permanently for a low price, but we decided against that on the back of holding the door open for Jarrad.”
Russell Martin can get the best out of Coady at Rangers
Martin can maximise Coady’s potential at Rangers by leveraging his leadership, ball-playing ability and experience in a possession-based system.
The 32-year-old thrived at Wolves, where his composure and passing range suited a back-three setup.
Martin’s high-possession, build-from-the-back philosophy aligns perfectly with Coady’s strengths, as evidenced by his 91.5% passing accuracy in the Premier League.
Deploying the Englishman as the central defender in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 would allow him to orchestrate play and mentor younger defenders.
His vocal leadership and 10 England caps can stabilise Rangers’ backline, while Martin’s trust in him fosters confidence.
Regular rotation to manage his age ensures he delivers consistently, bolstering the Ibrox outfit’s defensive solidity and title ambitions.