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)
In a summer where Rangers are going to have a big turnaround of players, it is impossible for every player who the club wants to sign and be sold to have the desired outcome when the transfer window shuts.
There are simply too many factors at play for it to be the club’s fault or that of Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement if the squad isn’t perfect come day one of the season.
The one that they inherited was imbalanced and lacking any real cohesive plan with a lot of money spent sitting on the sidelines or in the stands every week.
The new players who have been brought in at least show what direction Rangers are trying to head in and all of them have a very specific profile.
Yusuf Kabadayi makes his move after Rangers interest
One player who won’t be joining that list who was linked by Sky Sports is Yusuf Kabadayi, the Bayern Munich winger who spent last season on loan at Schalke in his first attempt at senior football.
Chris Jack went as far as to say that Kabadayi “will be a Rangers player”.
They didn’t take up the option to buy the 20-year old, however, after looking like he was heading to Besiktas, the flying machine is set to stay in Germany.
According to Bild journalist Tobi Altschafll, Kabadayi is staying in the Bundesliga:
“Bayern talent Yusuf Kabadayi is moving to FC Augsburg. The attacker has signed a four-year contract until 2028, initially costing around 900,000 euros (£762,000).”
Rangers recruitment laid bare in transfer near misses
The headlines will be “Rangers miss out again” after a similar scenario for Jose Cordoba and, potentially, Damian Garcia, however, the reality is much different.
Rangers are competing with teams in Europe’s top five leagues where the wages, even at mid or lower table sides, will be comparable if not better than anything that Koppen can offer.
Then, there is the chance to play week in, week out, against some of the best players on the continent.
Look at the sharp end of European competition last season, German clubs were challenging on all fronts.
Would you want to play Kilmarnock or Ross County four, five or six times a season when you could be playing Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund?
Take off the blue tinted specs and it’s not a difficult decision, especially for a Germany youth international.
No club gets every player that they chase, not even the likes of Real Madrid.
It isn’t a problem exclusive to Rangers, but it is one that fans, with the advent of 24/7 football media, must get used to.
Either that, or they are in for a long summer.
