GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Rangers will be “desperate” to move players out in January because it is set to be the only way they’ll have anything to spend, according to Tom English.
The BBC Sport journalist claimed on the Scottish Football Podcast on December 6 that he didn’t think there would be any action during the winter window “at all,” following chairman John Bennett’s “very interesting” critique of the waste at Ibrox during this week’s AGM.
English said there are still a lot of “issues” at the club heading into the New Year and felt the Ibrox boss was “veiledly” targeting players like Ross Wilson and Michael Beale.
English stated, “There are still a lot of issues there,” after 15 minutes and 10 seconds. I found their AGM to be rather fascinating. The club’s chairman, John Bennett, is giving a clear explanation of the financial waste that has occurred.
“If you go through what he says, you’ll find a lot of fascinating information as well as a lot of criticism—much of it subtly critical of earlier administrations led by Beale and Ross Wilson.
Therefore, I don’t believe that January will see any significant spending. Unless they trade players, I don’t think they have any money to spend. They’ll be desperate to get players out, in my opinion.
Rejects
English’s assertion is in line with what many fans likely suspected given the most recent reports and the significant money spent on Beale’s unsuccessful summer makeover and subsequent firing.
However, Bennett also mentioned at the AGM that Philippe Clement will have support in January despite this situation [Rangers Review, December 5], so supporters will undoubtedly be hoping he keeps his word.
Few would argue against the notion that certain members of the team should be changed in light of the facts at hand, but this was a frequent suggestion made during the previous season, and things have likely gotten worse since then.
Though it would be extremely barren if any of the desired assets, like Ross McCausland or Jack Butland, disappeared, the odds of moving any of the poor summer signings seem slim.
If Butland stays put, Robby McCrorie has the potential to be a lucrative addition and his departure might not be as emotionally upsetting. The only position that appears to have been significantly addressed by the summer transfers is the goalkeeper, with at least doubts at striker, left back, center back, and central midfield.
Even if the money were available, it seems doubtful that Clement would receive a significant haul in the middle of the season because the ideal targets are probably unachievable, but he undoubtedly needs a spark or two.
The advantage that had been developed in Scotland has been completely squandered by the change of managers, players, and members of the hierarchy in Govan since the 55th title win. While Beale and Wilson are two of the names who stand out among that, there is enough of fault to be assigned.
Although Clement has shown a lot of promise, the Ibrox scene feels very unchanged from a year ago—a terrible indictment considering how many people have changed and how much money has been spent since then.
