Rangers have definitely improved since Steven Gerrard took over at the club, but they still need to go some way before they can match Celtic. The Hoops are currently eight points clear on the top of the table, and the Scottish Cup seems like the only title which the Gers can hope of winning from here onwards.
One of the major problems Rangers failed to solve in the January transfer market was that they were unable to sign an out and out no. 10. Steven Gerrard had himself claimed in November that signing a playmaker was going to be his priority. However, it seems to us that none of his targets were available in January. Rangers did manage to bring two midfielders in the form of Steven Davis and Glen Kamara, but neither of them are outright playmakers.
That is one of the reasons why Rangers have dropped points after the winter break as they have failed to open up defences. One player they could look to target to solve this problem is Tottenham Hotspurs’ academy product, Jack Roles.
Not too long ago, reports from Football. London came out that the 19-year-old is reportedly going to leave the club in the summer. However, his departure is happening not because he isn’t good enough to play at the top level but because Spurs have too many playmakers at their disposal currently.
Therefore the u-21 Cyprus international could part ways in the summer. His record at the youth level has been impressive as he managed six goals and six assists in 25 games this season. Roles can play in various positions across the pitch including as a striker up front or on either of the flanks. However, he is at his best when he plays as an attacking midfielder.
Rangers have struggled to open up teams who stack their players in two walls of five players. Often they have to take the route of sending in hopeful crosses into the box as they lack the quality to cut through the middle. Someone like Roles can solve that problem, and the fact that he could be available in the summer should make Rangers interested.
There is no doubt that quite a few clubs might come calling in for the 19-year-old in the summer given his talent. The youngster has played a crucial role for the youth team as they reached the UEFA Youth League’s last 16. It is slightly surprising that Spurs are willing to let their playmaker leave in the summer. The midfielder has that guile and creativeness to his game and to go with that, Roles works quite hard off the ball. Gerrard should definitely keep a keen eye on him after the latest development.
