In a recent statement by Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, Steven Gerrard’s side have announced that three first-team players will be allowed to leave the Ibrox when their contracts expire at the end of the season. It has been suggested that goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, defender Jon Flanagan and midfielder Andy Halliday are all set to depart in the summer when their current terms with the club come to a close.
What Are The Repercussions Of This Announcement?
For starters, the departure of goalkeeper Wes Foderingham could have a negative impact on the side, as they’ll be left with just one realistic option at the back. 38-year-old Allan McGregor will have to be backed up by former Liverpool academy graduate Alan Firth, who is only 23 and is yet to make his Premiership debut for the Gers. Even with that said though, there is a bigger concern that Gerrard will need to address in the summer – left-back.
Rangers Must Sign A Left Back This Summer
What Is Rangers’ Current Left-Back Situation?
The Glasgow club, worryingly enough, started the season with just one recognised left-back option in the roster. In Barisic’s absence though, the slot was filled by one of either right-back Jon Flanagan, or central midfielder Andy Halliday. With both players now confirmed to be departing, the aforementioned question is bound to come up again in the coming months.
Borna Barisic has been excellent at left-back for the Gers this season after an injury-ravaged first term, and providing cover for such a naturally gifted footballer was never going to be an easy task. As good as Flanagan and Halliday were in glimpses in the position, neither of them ever looked like being capable of providing Gerrard with the option to rest the Croatian.
Rangers Must Sign A Left-Back This Summer – The Two Names Gerrard Should Consider:
Barry Douglas
Ex Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Barry Douglas has been linked with a move to Rangers consistently over the last month, and he was even urged to make the switch by former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips (Football Insider). The Leeds United ace has fallen heavily down the pecking order at Elland Road and would offer the ideal balance of experience and quality. Capable of providing solid defensive cover down the flank, signing the Scot would make complete sense for Gerrard at this time, especially considering that it would be a cost-effective transfer as well.
Aaron Hickey
The 17-year-old Hearts defender has been on Rangers’ Premiership rivals Celtic’s Radar over the last few weeks, as has been reported by the Daily Record. Although the involvement of teams like Bayern Munich, and formerly Manchester City in the equation could make things tricky, it’s unlikely that the Scot will make the switch across the channel at such a young age.
Steven Gerrard will do well to pounce on the player and steal him from right under the noses of their Old Firm rivals. The 17-year-old has been nothing short of a sensation this season, and acquiring his services early in the summer could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business by the Ibrox club.
