Rangers will require a central defender or two in the upcoming summer transfer market as they are going to lose the services of Joe Worrall and Gareth McAuley. Moreover, Connor Goldson has also looked shaky on occasions, and there is no doubt that Steven Gerrard would have to sign new defenders for the upcoming season.
One name which they can go for is Livingston captain, Craig Halkett. The 23-year-old is a former Rangers player and a boyhood Light Blues fan. Halkett is currently in the final few months of his contract and has been linked (The Scotsman) with moves to Hibernian FC and Hearts. The defender recently talked about how some players deserve to move on to bigger and better things.
The centre back said, ”There’s a good group of maybe nine or ten of us who have been with the club since League One and the double promotions. So, I think it’s only fair that the boys who have performed. well go on and get their moves.”
“That’s what happens in football and I don’t think you can begrudge anyone if they do move on to bigger and better things. I think it is like the end of an era and we’ve just got to enjoy it while it’s still happening. For me, it’s a nice compliment to be linked with a team as big as Hearts but it’s something I just let my agent deal with.”
It’s clear that the defender is likely to look for a new club as he is trying to justify why it’s important for certain players to move out. Halkett has been the backbone of his side in defence and at 23, he is captaining the team week in week out.
We think that a move back to his former boyhood club would attract the talented defender, and Gerrard should look at him as a possible option. What would make the deal even sweeter is that Halkett is available on a free transfer and Rangers don’t need to shell any amount to land him in the summer.
The centre back left the club in January of 2016 and at that time, it never felt like Rangers were making a major mistake by selling the defender to another club. However, in a few years, Halkett has proven his worth and looks like a promising defender who can go on to have an improved second spell at Ibrox. Hearts and Hibernian might also be in the race for him but if Gerrard goes on to make a proper offer, then Halkett could end up plying his trade in Glasgow by next season.
