Rangers’ return back to the Scottish Premiership hasn’t yielded substantial results and hasn’t met the yardsticks they would have set for themselves at the start of the campaign. Sporadic run of form, managerial ramifications and Celtic’s domestic superiority have really played their part in belittling the Gers as they have fallen way behind the Celts, who happen to be their arch rivals.
Post Mark Warburton’s departure from the Ibrox Stadium under mysterious circumstances, the jury is still out to determine the report card of Pedro Caixinha’s nascent regime. However, what has been evident from the Portuguese’s tenure so far, Rangers’ defence needs to be sorted during the summer transfer window. The Light Blues won’t allow the former Al-Gharafa boss to splash money left right and centre and it goes without saying that he would have to be shrewd in jotting the transfers.
Qadsia SC’s Rashid Sumaila is one of the players to have been linked with a move to the Ibrox Stadium. Contracts of Clint Hill and Phillippe Senderos expire at the end of the season and with the anticipated incoming of Sumaila, the central defensive slot would certainly hit a high. Caixinha has worked with the 24-year-old Ghana international whom he signed when he was the manager of Al-Gharafa and the pair shares a warm bond. Sumaila’s power and ability to read the game is exemplary and he would come as a free transfer in the summer.
Cagliari’s centre-back, Bruno Alves, is the other defender to be linked with the Glasgow-based side. Alves is a veteran defender and in the Serie A, the 35-year-old defender has bagged 33 appearances and has registered 0.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 5.6 clearances and 0.6 blocks per game on an average. The Teddy Bears are in a dire need of a leader in their ranks who could marshal the troops and inject a sense of positive attitude in them which would come really handy in their endeavours in the coming seasons.
The Portuguese international is well built, is comfortable in going into aerial duels, passes the ball well, never refrains from getting into tight areas and is a very reliable customer at the back. With the experience he has under his belt, he should be prioritised in the summer. With these two defenders in their armoury, Rangers would be able to sort their defensive loopholes to a huge extent and thus, should appeal Caixinha to make a move.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
