According to the latest reports from Daily Record, Rangers and Liverpool have come to an understanding, and Sheyi Ojo is set to move to Ibrox on a season-long loan. The 21-year-old is expected to join the Rangers’ squad when Steven Gerrard’s men arrive for the pre-season training next week. The reports also mention that Liverpool are yet to come on a decision regarding Ryan Kent.
Do Rangers need Ojo?
Liverpool and even Rangers would hope that Ojo can find similar success which Kent found last season in Glasgow. With Rangers having already secured the signature of Jake Hastie and Jordan Jones, this might look like an unnecessary signing at the moment. Jamie Murphy is also expected to be back after his horror first season where he suffered an injury in August last year and missed the rest of the campaign. Glenn Middleton is also an option and Rangers are already looking to sign Ryan Kent again.
However, latest reports claim that Gerrard will be willing to send Middleton and Hastie on loan this summer and that is the reason why he might have brought in Ojo who looked like a needless signing until and unless there were confirmed departures from the club.
Pressure on Gerrard to deliver in the next season
Rangers finished trophyless last season, but no one really expected Gerrard to stop Celtic’s juggernaut in just one year. However, he will be scrutinised more heavily next season as the club and fans would expect him to deliver some silverware. For that, Rangers should look to add proven and readymade players who can hit the ground running. That is probably the reason why Gerrard decided to ship out youngsters like Middleton and Hastie as he cannot afford to give them game time and develop them at Ibrox.
Is Ojo a good signing?
Ojo and Kent were more or less considered to be at the same level when they started at Liverpool. Some even rated Ojo higher than Kent, and if the Englishman can match his countryman like last season, then Rangers would be delighted.
The 21-year-old is predominantly a right winger, but he can play down the left as well. His pace and dribbling skills are his standout assets, and he has had loan spells at Reims, Wigan Atheltic and Wolves before. The winger struggled in Ligue 1 last season, and he might be keen to prove himself at Rangers.
His final product has always been under the scanner, but maybe with regular game time, he can improve on that front. Ojo has impressive close control skills as well, and he might remind Rangers fans of Ovie Ejaria with his ability to get out of tight spaces. Hopefully, he won’t follow the suit of Ejaria and instead follow his winger counterpart Kent.
