We need a starting right-back and a centre-half more than anything else. Depth across the full-back positions and another central defender to rotate are sensible too. Loans don't look worth fighting to keep, in my view.
What we're short of
Start with the obvious: a right-back who will start week in, week out. We also need a genuine first-choice centre-half. Beyond that, sensible cover — a backup left-back, back-up right-back and a third centre-half — would give Danny Rohl the flexibility he needs without clogging the wage bill.
How the system shapes personnel
When Rohl first made us hard to break down and kept clean sheets, players like Souttar looked the part. He suited a compact, low-risk defensive structure. But once the manager asked the team to be more adventurous, commit bodies forward and play higher up the pitch, weaknesses in his game became clearer. He isn’t the most mobile against quick transitions and that matters when you’re asking centre-backs to carry the ball or step out of line.
Recruitment should prioritise full-backs who can defend well and offer genuine width, and centre-halves with enough mobility to handle transitions while also being comfortable in possession. Finding that blend will be crucial if we want to keep shape and support a more attacking approach.
Where Manny and Souttar fit
Big Manny deserves credit. He’s got the physical attributes we want in a central defender and the kind of presence that eases pressure in big games. I’d keep him around and give him a real chance to stake a claim. Souttar, meanwhile, still has value — especially with his homegrown status and the flexibility his contract offers the club — but he feels more like squad depth than a guaranteed starter if we’re to progress.
That doesn’t mean he should be discarded. Rotate him, use him in matches where a more conservative approach is needed, and bring in a ball-playing partner who can thrive when we press and push forward. The balance between solidity and the ability to build from the back needs sorting.
In short: strengthen the right side and central defence, keep Manny, retain Souttar as a backup option and don’t cling to loan players who haven’t done enough to force their way back in. The window should be about pragmatic upgrades, not sentimental picks.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
