Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has said that he is still keen on making one more addition before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. He hinted that a deal is not close but they are working on getting in another player:
“I’ve made no secret of the fact I’d like to add one more. There’s no rush to do that We’re prepared to be patient to get the right person. And more outgoings will depend on whether the individual players want to go and play football.”
Although some may assume that person will be Ryan Kent, it must be said that the Gers boss has written off the club’s chances of signing the 22-year-old with Liverpool keen to offload the player on a permanent basis.
From what we have seen of Rangers this season, my best guess is that Gerrard is targeting a new left-back. Kris Boyd recently described it as the club’s problem position, and he may well be right.
Borna Barisic has started the season as first choice but he has struggled to make his mark. The £2.2m signing has never looked comfortable since arriving from NK Osijek, and being subbed at half time in the second leg against Progres Niederkorn shows Gerrard doesn’t trust the Croatian.
Rangers do have other options in the squad. Jon Flanagan filled in when he could and impressed following the split in April, but he is naturally right-footed and doesn’t offer balance on the left flank which Gerrard is looking for.
Andy Halliday has also been given a run out in the position as he is left-footed but, as he ostensibly a holding midfielder, it would be a surprise if he is asked to be the club’s first-choice left-back for the whole season.
That leaves only one solution which is finding another left-back on the transfer market. Who that would be, is anyone’s guess at the moment as the club have not been linked with any fullbacks recently.
It could be the case that Rangers are keeping things quiet. The Filip Helander deal only became known to the press a couple of days before it was finalised, and Gerrard and Mark Allen may be staying silent this time around as well.
However, if they are not actively pursuing a target, it would be a major concern. The way Barisic has started the season, you can see teams targeting the left-hand side in order to create opportunities.
With Gerrard determined to build a title-winning squad, filling this problem position looks to be a final piece of the jigsaw following a long summer recruitment drive.