There’s a feeling growing that Rangers are finally starting to pull in the same direction as the support, and for me you see it most clearly when you look at the players we might be ready to move on and the positions we’re clearly targeting.

When you hear talk of Rothwell possibly going in January and the idea that Gassama could be sold as well, it tells you a lot about what the manager is thinking. Truth is, I’d be more than happy if both were moved on, because it would signal that the club is serious about trimming the squad and upgrading the starting XI rather than just shuffling bodies around.

Rebuilding the spine from back to front

I’ve said for a while that this team badly needs a stronger spine. If we want to dominate properly, not just have the odd good spell, then the core has to be rock solid and reliable. For me, that means January has to be about key positions, not luxury signings.

In an ideal world, we’d bring in at least one or two centre-backs, a proper defensive midfielder who can protect the back line, and a striker we can genuinely hang our hat on. On top of that, I’d add one more position that some might overlook but I think is absolutely vital: a new goalkeeper.

I know not everyone will agree, but for me Butland looks past his absolute best, and Kelly doesn’t feel like the long-term answer either. If we’re serious about building a spine we can trust every single week, it has to start with a goalkeeper who gives total confidence to the back four and sets the standard from there.

In simple terms, the ideal core going forward would look like this: new goalkeeper, new centre-back, another new centre-back, new defensive midfielder, and a new striker. And if, on top of that, we managed to add a winger with real end product, then even better.

January might be busy, but it’s overdue

Now, I’m not daft. That’s a lot to ask from a January window. You don’t usually rip up the middle of a team in the middle of a season. But the way I see it, we’re trying to correct mistakes from the last window as much as we’re trying to build something new.

We recruited poorly not that long ago and everyone knows it. The positive thing is it genuinely looks like they’re now trying to fix that, starting this January and then properly into the summer. For once, it feels like the club’s vision is actually starting to line up with what most fans have been shouting for: fewer gambles, more guaranteed quality in key areas.

Why next season could be the real launch point

I’ve said it before and I’ll happily say it again: I honestly believe that by next season we could have a squad strong enough to go for a domestic clean sweep. That’s not based on blind optimism, it’s based on what this team could look like if we nail the recruitment and clear out the right players.

Give this manager a spine he can rely on, add a bit of pace and quality in the wide areas, and I genuinely think we’ll be a real force from the very start of next season. Pin this and laugh at it if you want down the line, but I’m convinced that if the club keeps moving in this direction, we’re not far away from having a Rangers side that properly looks and feels like Rangers again.

Written by Thestigno1: 14 December 2025

Tags: transfers opinion