What a summer Rangers are having this time around. Having sealed their comeback to the Premiership by claiming the Championship title last season, it was always expected that the Gers will be quite busy this summer but I can put my money on the fact that very few imagined that Warburton will bring in players like Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar or Jordan Rossiter. However, Rangers seem far from done in the market.
According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott is ‘extremely keen’ to join Rangers having held talks with manager Mark Warburton. If Warburton can pull off this signing, it could be one hell of a transfer by the Rangers manager this summer. Rangers have made significant bolstering to their squad in every department this window but a position that still needed to be looked was central defence and it would be remarkable if Rangers can react to that with the signing of the two-time Premier League winner.
Yes, Kranjcar, Hill, Barton, Gilks all come with a decent experience in the top level but Lescott trumps them all with what he delivered in English football over the years. The 34-year-old has been a pivotal player in English football over the years for Wolves, Everton, Manchester City, West Brom and Aston Villa respectively. 286 appearances in the Premier League- that’s the kind of experience Rangers will add to their backline if they can wrap up the signature of Lescott.
Birmingham-born Lescott, 34, joined Aston Villa from local rivals West Bromwich Albion last summer, finally getting the chance to play for the club he grew up supporting. But his dream move turned out to be a nightmare as he was one of the worst players for the Villans contributing to the Midlands’ club dropping down to the Championship.
Now aged 34, Lescott is unlikely to be in demand from the Premier League given how dismal he was last season. However, the 26-capped English international still has it in him to become a big success at Ibrox. Lescott is any day a big upgrade on defenders like Danny Wilson or Rob Kiernan and even Clint Hill. To compete for the title, Rangers need to improve their defence and Lescott will exactly do that.
The former Manchester City defender will be a massive addition not just on the pitch but also off it. The likes of Wilson and Kiernan can learn from the Englishman’s experience and can improve their game. If Rangers can make this happen, this deal could be the one that takes them one step closer to the Premiership title.
