David Edgar is relieved that Philippe Clement has confirmed that the Rangers would undergo a summer of transition following the conclusion of the season.
Following the Belgian’s news conference on May 13th, during which he disclosed that 11 players would not be available for Dundee’s visit and mentioned that preparations had already been made for months to stage a “turnaround” at Ibrox, the presenter of Heart & Hand responded on Twitter.
After the most recent away loss to Celtic at the weekend, Edgar is happy that there will be a second transfer market revamp in less than a year. The Scottish Premiership championship is all but gone.
With a joyful dancing emoji, he tweeted, “First PC admission of major summer changes.” Because it is required by Christ.
Rangers’ transfer window will be bustling once more.
After Michael Beale was tasked with managing the required changeover from the old guard to the new one last summer, things weren’t meant to be this way this year.
The departures of Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield and Filip Helander on frees was expected to herald a complete refit at Ibrox and yet, despite plenty of activity, Rangers still find themselves in the same position under Clement 12 months later.
Following a third Old Firm derby without a win for the Belgian there may be some concern developing that he is set to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps.
Crucially for Clement he has revived a season that looked lost under Beale using the same players, and did something the Englishman never did in winning a trophy, but having looked like he had everything under control at Rangers for some months the end to the campaign is threatening to undercut that.
The Scottish Cup final against Celtic could be the difference between the Light Blues heading into their latest summer rebuild with optimism or pessimism around the manager, as a defeat would mean another trophy missed, a fourth crack at Brendan Rodgers’ side without a win, and a worryingly sense that the club are in the same position they were under Beale.
No manager is perfect but while the temptation may have been to blame the squad as the excellent early-2024 form disappeared there have been mistakes made by Clement since that mean he has to share the responsibility.
A derby win at Hampden and a successful transfer window are now his key opportunities to show he can put an end to what has become a damaging cycle in the years since Steven Gerrard left for Aston Villa.
