According to a recent report by the Sunday Post, Premiership giants Rangers are said to be considering a summer move for the services of St. Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky, as they look for a backup option to veteran ace Allan McGregor.
The report suggests that the Gers are likely to make a proper move for the Czech stopper this summer, as Gerrard prepares for what could be a massive season in the story of Scottish football. The keeper is reported to have even personally addressed the interest from Rangers, before the last transfer window.
The Ibrox side recently announced the departures of first-team name Wes Foderingham, meaning that the need for a new option at the back is extremely high. Despite Robby McCrorie’s expected return from loan, the report suggests that Steven Gerrard is after a player who can add experience and value to his squad. With Rangers targeting Vaclav Hladky, whose current contract at St.Mirren is set to expire in the summer, holding onto their man could turn out to be quite the task for Saints gaffer Jim Goodwin.
What Is Rangers’ Current Situation Between The Sticks?
38-year-old veteran Allan McGregor has been the first-choice at the Ibrox for a couple of years now, having made the switch back to Scottish football in the summer of 2018. While his displays at the back have been brilliant, it must be conceded that a lot of the credit for the solid defensive performances also goes to the Rangers defence line deployed just in front of him. The Scot conceded only 18 goals from his 27 Premiership fixtures this season, while he even managed a stellar record of 14 clean sheets.
The veteran keeper went on to pick up eight clean sheets during the Gers’ extended run in the Europa League this season, and replacing a man of that stature is never going to be an easy task. English stopper Wes Foderingham was McGregor’s backup option all through the campaign and had been a member of the Ibrox camp since joining from Swindon Town in the summer of 2015. With the 29-year-old’s departure now made official by the Glasgow club, it’s only natural that they begin to identify an alternate option ahead of next season.
What Would Vaclav Hladky Add To This Rangers Side?
The Czech keeper has been a St. Mirren player for a little over a year now and has thoroughly impressed during his time in Scotland. Formerly of Sloven Liberec, the 29-year-old has displayed excellent reactions and positioning in his Premiership career so far, and continued to be the number one for the Saints until the campaign was brought to a halt. Having played in 30 league fixtures, the keeper conceded 41 goals, and although that might not look great on paper, it’s sure to improve upon moving to the Ibrox.
Rangers Targeting Vaclav Hladky: Should Gerrard Look To Sign Him Up?
McGregor, for all the excellent work he’s done over the last couple of seasons, is edging towards the final years of his long playing career. This means that any keeper they bring in at this point could end up being the first choice potentially as early as the end of the next season. The time that Hladky has spent in Scotland proves that he’s more than capable of performing at the highest level. When it comes to Scottish football, it doesn’t get any bigger than making a switch to Glasgow, and the Gers will do well to sign him up ahead of next season.
