Greg Stewart of Birmingham City has been linked with Rangers for quite some time, but nothing official had been made yet. However, latest reports from Sky Sports states that the Gers have secured a three year deal for the 29-year-old attacker. The player is going to come at Ibrox on a free transfer as Birmingham City released him recently as his contract was anyway going to run down in a few weeks.
Stewart played for Kilmarnock in the first half of the season on loan and enjoyed great success as he contributed with eight goals and seven assists. However, he wasn’t able to replicate such form when he was loaned to Aberdeen in January. He only managed two goals in the second half of the campaign.
The Stirling born player’s career has been inconsistent for most parts, and that is one of the drawbacks of signing him. However, Stewart is a versatile attacker, and he can fill in various roles in the attacking third. Also, he has got a decent amount of experience playing in the Scottish Premiership. We are quite sure that Gerrard sees Stewart as a no. 10.
Why Rangers need a playmaker?
Scott Arfield has filled in the attacking midfielder’s role for the most parts this season, but the Canadian international is more suited to play in a box to box role. He has done well, but Arfield isn’t a natural no. 10. Gerrard in November last year had indicated that he would look to sign an outright no. 10 in the future. He wasn’t able to sign anyone like that in January, and now it seems like he is solving that dilemma by bringing in Stewart.
One of Rangers’ problem this season has been breaking down teams when they sit back and defend in numbers. On those occasions, the club has missed someone who provides that creativity and goals from midfield.
Is Stewart a decent bet?
We are kind of in between with this signing as Stewart has been far too inconsistent in his career to predict how he would go about his business for Rangers. However, on a free transfer, the risks are less for the Gers, so that is something which goes for this signing.
Stewart’s work rate is also often questionable, but hopefully, Gerrard will be able to extract everything from the player. The signing has chances to fail, but it isn’t hopeless as Stewart is a smart operator in the attacking third with an eye for a goal. Therefore he can turn out to be a shrewd signing for the club.
