Mark Warburton seems like a pretty busy man right now since the January transfer window has opened and we do understand the reason. The Gers did not have the best start to their life back in the Premiership but things have improved of late. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement and one position that needs it the most is midfield.
Niko Kranjcar’s injury has left Rangers starving for creativity in the middle of the park and the Rangers boss has every reason to be concerned about that.
Rangers boss Warburton is looking to sign Jon Toral on loan from Arsenal to replace Kranjcar’s creativity as per reports. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at La Liga side Granada where he isn’t seeing consistent game time and Arsenal should not mind cutting his loan spell short and let him move to the North of the border. Here is a SWOT analysis of the 21-year-old.
Strengths
Toral comes with everything you expect from a Spanish player. Excellent technique, brilliant feet and amazing flair- he is a complete attacking midfielder who could be a revelation at Ibrox. He has plenty of Championship experience while on loan at clubs Brentford and Birmingham City and we have seen players from the Championship excel in Scottish first tier. At Ibrox, he should get first-team chances with ease which can be beneficial for him in getting a place for himself at Arsenal, even though that might not appeal to the Rangers fans.
Weaknesses
Well, one thing that might be a bit concerning for the fans is that he has failed to make any kind of impact at Granada. A Spanish player struggling in Spain is something you do not see too often. Scottish Championship is a bit more physical when compared to Spanish La Liga and despite his big stature of 6 ft 1⁄2 in, he is not the strongest which could make him struggle at Ibrox.
Opportunities
Arsenal fans hope of big things from Toral in coming years and a good loan spell with Rangers could prove to be something he needs to live up to those. Playing in front one of the most passionate fanbases in the world, Toral will know what it feels like when you represent the bigger clubs in the country. Such experience can be invaluable for him.
Threats
Well, Rangers don’t have the privilege to take a gamble on the position they need to strengthen the most. Toral, at the moment, seems like a gamble for them but due to a tight budget, they have no other option. All Warburton can do is to hope that he does a good job on loan at the club, if they eventually sign him.
