Rangers squad needs: January priorities, summer rebuild

Looking at the squad line by line, it feels like January should be about plugging two obvious gaps, with the bigger reshaping left for summer once loans and contracts shake out.

This is how I see Rangers’ squad needs across January and then into the summer: a couple of priorities now, but a proper rebuild of certain areas once the season reaches the point where decisions can’t be dodged.

January: cover the basics, don’t kid ourselves on

The two positions that jump out for January are central midfield and left wing. In midfield, you’re really looking for one body in the door to cover Barron’s injury and keep the rotation sensible. That’s not even about getting fancier, it’s about not running the same lads into the ground and keeping the tempo in games where you need legs.

Out wide on the left, it’s similar logic. Gassama gives you an option, but the rest of the “can play there” group (Moore, Matondo, Bajrami) feels too messy as a long-term plan. A proper natural left winger as a second option would make a difference. If Matondo and Bajrami are moved on, it becomes even more urgent, and that’s why a January signing there makes sense to me.

Centre-half and striker in January? I’d class those as bonuses rather than absolutes. If outgoings go well, or a good deal opens up, you take it. If not, you can see why it might wait.

Defence: summer is where it really bites

Goalkeeper is the one area I’d leave alone. Butland and Kelly is fine, no drama required.

At left-back, with Rommens and Meghoma, I’m thinking one new left-back in the summer and, if it’s possible, potentially buying Meghoma. That feels like a sensible piece of business rather than starting from scratch again.

Right-back is the big one for me. Tav, Sterling and Aarons, and I’m saying all can go. That’s not sentiment, it’s just the shape of the squad. If that’s how it plays out, then you’re talking about needing two right-backs in the summer, not one.

At centre-back, we’ve got Souttar, Fernandez, Cornelious, Nsiala and Djiga. I’d move on and replace Nsiala and Djiga, with Cornelious depending on recovery. Overall, I’m looking at two new centre-backs, ideally one in January if the opportunity is there.

Attack and the No.10 spot: tidy it up

At CAM, Moore and Aasgaard leaves me thinking we’ll need one in the summer to replace Moore. On the right, with Olsen and Antman, I’m not demanding anything new.

Up front, it’s Chermiti, Miovski and Danilo. For me, you only add another striker if Danilo can be sold. Otherwise you’re just stockpiling bodies without fixing the balance.

Add it all up and it’s around nine players across the two windows, with CM and LW the clear January priorities, and the heavy lifting at full-back saved for summer once the loan situations are clearer.

Written by huey: 16 January 2026