Rangers' transfer problem position Clement must prioritise

European progression to guarantee the best part of £4million awarded for reaching the Champions League play-off round or a greater volume of transfer activity out the door. With 11 days to go until the window closes and despite Philippe Clement publicly confirming some have no future and others have been informed they’re not part of his project months ago, too many big earners not playing big roles in the squad remain.

Read more: Check all the Rangers transfer news & rumours throughout the transfer window

Few positions are immune from the need for quality or depth before September 1st in Clement’s squad - but transfer business is required in particular across the midfield and wide attacking areas. Exasperated by an injury to Oscar Cortes, the Ibrox outfit are short on the wings, especially given Ridvan’s injury at left-back means Jefte will now play deeper. The left side is an area Rangers would like to strengthen and with Jefte and Robbie Fraser both capable at left-back or on the left-wing, that player could arrive in either position.

The centre of midfield is just as light on numbers. Todd Cantwell has been omitted from first-team training for weeks after handing in a transfer request while Ianis Hagi is playing and training with the B team. The Romanian international’s situation differs because he is believed to be open to staying at Ibrox, despite talks earlier this summer between the two parties concluding that an exit was preferable. The situation is complicated because Hagi is not viewed as a player Clement intends to build around, and there is a clause in his contract that risks triggering a wage rise with a small number of extra appearances. The club is attempting to offload Scott Wright but interest from the player in the English Championship is yet to be cemented.

Alex Lowry, out of contract at Ibrox next summer, hasn’t been involved in the first-team matchday squad since pre-season and started for the B team again in midweek during a 6-2 defeat against Blackburn Rovers. Meaning Tom Lawrence, who to date has managed 4.1 and 14.4 league 90 minutes over the past two seasons, is the only recognised No.10 available approaching the new campaign.

Mohamed Diomande started a line ahead at the weekend during a 2-0 League Cup win over St Johnstone and is a better fit stylistically at No.10 than No.6. Even still, with only Connor Barron, Dujon Sterling, Nico Raskin and Kieran Dowell as options in the deeper midfield roles, Diomande’s continued presence behind the striker has a knock-on effect in other areas of the pitch. James Tavernier cannot be relied upon to feature in every match should he remain at the club this summer if Sterling is picked in midfield regularly.

Clement’s consistent use of a No.10 has been criticised over summer, however, it’s a more dogmatic feature out of possession than with the ball. Look at Rangers' pass network from a recent 2-1 win over Motherwell, charting the average position from where a player made their actions. The on-ball shape is far more reflective of a No.6 and two No.8s as opposed to a singular No.10.

Rangers' passing network vs Motherwell (Image: StatsBomb)

On that day Lawrence often received the ball deeper to the left as Wright played inverted from that same side. 

Where did Lawrence receive the ball vs Motherwell? (Image: StatsBomb)

Clement’s football is far more man-orientated off the ball with Rangers pressing in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. That leaves the most advanced midfielder with a responsibility to join the No.9 at the top end of the pitch and often a lot of space to cover. The Ibrox side’s off-ball shape looked far better away in Lublin during the first-leg of their Champions League play-off when Lawrence remained in a more central position but if the top end of the pitch becomes stretched, that area can lack energy. Routinely in Old Firm games during recent seasons, the contrast in legs between either team has harmed Rangers. If the Old Firm were to be played tomorrow you'd expect a Diomande, Sterling and Barron midfield - but Tavernier's defensive struggles against Dazien Maeda of late in the fixture can't afford to be repeated at right-back if Sterling features centrally.

There are questions over Lawrence’s suitability in a running No.10 role which requires a player who thrives in big spaces to carry play forward - especially given Cyriel Dessers, for his quality, is not a forward that thrives with his back to goal, meaning Rangers can be pinned back too easily when wingers are pushed deep. 

Barron has impressed since moving to the club from Aberdeen this summer predominantly playing at the base of midfield. Clement still lacks an out-and-out No.6, especially one with experience, over the course of this campaign after the club’s pursuit of Sevilla Joan Jordan broke down last month. Dowell has been converted into a central midfielder since Michael Beale left the club but has started just eight times at Rangers and remains an unnatural fit in the centre.

Rangers' squad depth, yellow indicates a new arrival (Image: RR)

Raskin’s minutes were limited after he returned from injury at the start of 2024. The Belgian midfielder was an immediate hit at Ibrox after joining from Standard Liege in early 2023 and performed well in the Scottish Cup Final last season despite a lack of appearances in the lead-up to that fixture. Raskin is more of a ball-carrier than passer over distance and is better suited to a shuttling No.8 role than a dictating No.6 remit in Clement’s set-up.

This time last year their starting midfield three comprised of Raskin, Cantwell and Jose Cifuentes. Alongside the latter two, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack have also left the engine room without much in return. However, it's spun Rangers' need for quality in the centre is clear.