Rangers to seal immediate upgrade with Chris Mepham transfer ready
Rangers’ defensive problems over the last year have been no secret, and they’re still stuck searching for a solution.
Russell Martin’s recruits, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, and Nasser Djiga, are yet to click in defence, and mistakes have already cost them dearly.
Ben Davies leaving Rangers means that they will likely recruit a new centre back in the final week of the window, with the deadline quickly approaching.
As Martin has done repeatedly over the summer, he could return to England to find the final piece to his defensive puzzle, with Rangers wanting to sign Chris Mepham.
David Friel speaks on Chris Mepham to Rangers move
Martin is already under pressure at Rangers, after failing to win in seven of his ten games in charge.
His style of play has come under question at Ibrox, and defensive mistakes, especially in Rangers’ 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge, have caused upset in the dressing room.
Bournemouth are said to have made Mepham surplus to requirements at the Cherries, so a move looks plausible, whether on loan or permanently.
The Scottish Sun journalist David Friel spoke about the potential transfer, saying it could tick a lot of boxes after developments in the window.
“I was speaking earlier on about Conor Coady and that kind of player they’re looking for, to me, Chris Mepham fits the bill.
“27 years old, 40, 50 Wales caps, huge experience Premier League and Championship, when he was at Sunderland on loan.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Clean sheets |
| Sunderland | 40 | 1 | 12 |
“So he you would imagine he’d fit the bill as an experienced centre half, the kind that Russell Martin has been speaking about, he is one that could get them a cut price deal, he’s only got a year left on his contract.
“I think it would certainly be an upgrade on, judging by his CV and experience, what is maybe there in terms of Manny Fernandez.”
How do Ben Davies and Chris Mepham compare?
Davies was allowed to join Championship side Oxford United on loan until the end of the season.
The defender won’t play again for Gers, with his contract expiring at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
With that said, how does Davies compare with potential new man Mepham?
| Mepham | Player | Davies |
| 38 | Games | 35 |
| 54 | Tackles won | 22 |
| 112 | Duels won | 221 |
| 35 | Interceptions | 17 |
Davies’ Birmingham side were more dominant in League One than Sunderland were in the Championship last season, so it makes sense that he had to defend less.
Mepham’s tackles won and interceptions show that he is much better at defending on the ground than in the air, but he demonstrates that he is good at reading the game.
This could make a lot of sense in the final days of the window.
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