Looking at the contract picture, it’s hard not to feel that Rangers are walking towards a massive defensive reset at the end of the season. Not a tweak. Not a “one in, one out”. A proper rebuild that could end up reshaping the whole spine of the side.
As it stands, the list of defensive players still under contract beyond the season is pretty small: Butland in goal, Sterling at right-back, plus centre-backs Fernandez and Nsiala. That’s it. If that’s accurate, you’re immediately thinking about the sheer number of minutes that need replaced, never mind quality.
Contracts, loans and the summer headache
On top of the players already mentioned, there are loans due to end as well: Djiga, Aarons, Meghoma and Cornelius. That alone creates uncertainty, because loans can give you cover for a season, but they rarely let you build real continuity unless you know the player is staying.
Then there’s the out-of-contract group: Tavernier, Kelly, Souttar, Wright and Davies. Whether fans rate every one of them or not, that’s experience and options potentially walking out the door at once. It’s not even about sentiment, it’s about squad engineering. You don’t want to be forced into panic buys because you’ve left yourself short in three or four defensive roles.
Of course, it can change quickly. A couple of permanent signings in this window, or extensions for key boys, and suddenly it looks less dramatic. But the point remains: Rangers have to be proactive. You can’t leave a summer like that to the last minute and hope it all comes together.
Fernandez is giving us something to build on
The bit that jumps out in all this is Fernandez. He’s starting to come onto a game, and not just quietly either. He’s chipping in with goals and looking more and more like a defender you can trust in proper moments, not only when everything is comfortable.
What I like is the contrast between how he looks and how he plays. He doesn’t always appear the biggest, but he’s stronger than folk expect. Bigger forwards can bounce off him, and he seems to enjoy the physical side without losing control of the basics. That matters in Scotland, where you’re asked to win duels, defend second balls, and still be calm enough to play out.
If his form keeps trending the right way, then the talk about his value rising starts to feel less like hype and more like a natural consequence of performance. You can see why fans would be buzzing about a potential big fee down the line, because a centre-half who defends properly and contributes at the other end is worth his weight in gold.
One night at a time, but the message is clear
There’s also that wee edge to it. You want your centre-half stepping up in the big games and making himself a nuisance in the opposition box. If Fernandez fancies “rattling one in” against Nancy’s Bhoys, you won’t find many Rangers fans complaining.
But even putting rivalries and match nights to the side, the bigger takeaway is obvious: the defensive planning has to start now. If Rangers are going to look solid next season, the club can’t just admire the problem. It needs solved.
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