It’s early days, undoubtedly, but the signs have been promising from the new boys in at Ibrox, with Glasgow Rangers having potentially played a blinder with their January business.
Indeed, Wednesday’s thumping 5-1 win saw marquee addition, Andreas Skov Olsen, get off the mark for the Premiership title contenders, while supporters also got a first glimpse of 22-year-old deadline day arrival, Ryan Naderi, following his eight goals already this season in Germany’s third tier.
Tochi Chukwuani might have sat out the weekend triumph, although it was impossible to ignore the impact of full-back, Tuur Rommens, with the Belgian defender having been immense in his late cameo, registering an assist from his left-back berth.
The winter window can be a typically difficult period to recruit – for every Nico Raskin, there’s a Todd Cantwell – but on current evidence, Danny Rohl and co have significantly upgraded their ranks this time around.
This could well just be the beginning of Roh’s recruitment drive, however, with there still something of a squad overhaul needed at Ibrox.
Every Rangers player who could be under threat this summer
Starting from back to front, there remains a nagging question mark over Jack Butland’s quality and consistency in the sticks, with the Englishman making a real blunder late on in the win over Kilmarnock.
The 32-year-old – who is out of contract next year – has now made three errors leading to a goal in the Premiership this season, having also made on in the Europa League to boot, with the goalkeeping department certainly an area to target this summer.
As for the backline, it remains to be seen if captain James Tavernier will pen an extension amid his own contract expiry, with there a very real chance that the long-serving full-back will depart, while fellow right-back, Max Aarons, is likely to return to parent club Bournemouth.
On the opposite flank, Jayden Meghoma is also in line to return to Brentford at the end of his own loan spell, while ahead of him, teenage sensation Mikey Moore is also likely to head back to Tottenham Hotspur.
Nasser Djiga, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, will be sent packing to end his Ibrox misery, with both Nedim Bajrami and Rabbi Matondo in need of a fresh start elsewhere, having been on the periphery for an extended period in Glasgow.
The Gers might be more keen to keep hold of Raskin, although with just under 18 months left on his deal, a summer sale appears an inevitability, while it could prove time to cash in on Mohamed Diomande, following Chukwuani’s capture.
Question marks also surround Oliver Antman, with the Finland star’s midweek strike just his first goal for the club, while the Gers could decide to cash in on Djeidi Gassama, having already rejected a bid for the 22-year-old in January.
That attacking department, even after Skov Olsen and Naderi’s arrival, still doesn’t appear to be up to scratch, with those two acquisitions potentially set to prove the end for one Russell Martin capture.
Why the new Cantwell could be on borrowed time at Rangers
Among the problem positions over an extended period now at Ibrox has been the number ten berth, with the aforementioned Bajrami failing to make that role his own, while cult hero Ianis Hagi was cruelly hampered by injury despite showing signs of promise under Steven Gerrard.
Cantwell signed instead: Rangers missed out on star who’s now worth £110m
Rangers missed out on signing a player who is now one of the best in the Premier League
Hopes were high that January 2023 arrival, Cantwell, would be the club’s new creative figurehead, following his move from Norwich City, with the Englishman ending his first six months in Scotland with 11 goals and assists in 20 games in all competitions.
Such an impact, unfortunately, couldn’t be maintained, with Cantwell swiftly returning to England in the summer of 2024, having scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 64 total games.
There were moments of magic, but simply no real consistency from Michael Beale’s signing, with that seemingly true of another of the club’s recent captures from the EFL, in the form of Thelo Aasgaard.
Signed from relegated Luton Town over the summer, the Norwegian midfielder has been among the goals in recent weeks, although it’s been a turbulent start to life in Glasgow, with just five goals in 36 games in all competitions.
An England-born, playmaker whose prior work had largely come in the lower leagues down south, in a similar vein to Cantwell, Aasgaard no doubt mirrors the ex-Rangers man with his ability to frustrate and infuriate at times.
He can produce something spectacular, as seen in the 23-year-old’s stunning free-kick against Annan Athletic, although that brilliance just hasn’t been seen enough, with four goals and one assist from 22 Premiership games making for poor reading.
|
Cantwell vs Aasgaard – first 6 months* |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (*per game) |
Cantwell (22/23) |
Aasgaard (25/26) |
|
Games |
16 |
22 |
|
Starts |
15 |
15 |
|
Goals |
6 |
4 |
|
Assists |
4 |
2 |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
3 |
|
Big chances created |
5 |
3 |
|
Pass accuracy* |
89% |
85% |
|
Dribbles* |
1.5 |
1.3 |
|
Ball lost* |
11.3 |
7.2 |
|
Total duels won* |
51% |
58% |
|
*Premiership only |
||
Against Killie, meanwhile, Aasgaard was hooked on the hour mark following another rather anonymous performance, having failed to provide a single key pass or ‘big chance’, having not won a single duel across his 60-minute outing.
Something of a luxury player, in the mould of Cantwell, the summer signing has that tendency to go missing in games, drifting in and out of proceedings in a manner which Rangers simply can’t afford in such a vital position on the pitch.
With Rohl now boasting both Naderi and Skov Olsen to call upon, two men who can both be deployed as a number ten if needed, Aasgaard’s regular role should now be under threat, with Gers supporters having surely seen enough of the Scandinavian struggler by now.
Having created just three ‘big chances’ all season, Aasgaard has done little to warrant his status as this team’s number ten.
As bad as Aasgaard: Rangers star must be the first player sold in the summer
This Rangers flop who was as bad as Thelo Aasgaard against Kilmarnock must be the first player sold in the summer.
