Rangers transfer scouting: Seven goalkeepers who could provide 2023 succession plan

This chatter emanated around Twitter, Facebook, online forums and Ibrox itself despite the two in-house frontrunners extending their deals just before the window opened.

Rangers had ample time to address this during the summer. Still, those aforementioned extensions indicate clearly that Ross Wilson has kicked the issue down the calendar which, in all honesty, isn’t the best decision and certainly not the approach I would have taken to the conundrum.

Assuming no goalkeeper-related business will occur in the dying embers of the window, even if Champions League qualification is secured. The rotation is set and wages attributed to an evident three-man pool of Jon McLaughlin, Allan McGregor, and Robby McCrorie. Given this, suggesting any number of potential keepers for the here and now is pointless and a waste of an article, even if it would be equally fun and frustrating. As such, the aim is to populate a shortlist of options of appropriate profiles to approach next year.

Mads Hermansen, Brondby

Brondby fans have witnessed a significant exodus of top-end talent over the past 18 months. Despite this, they have managed to hold on to one of the crown jewels of the recent youth-oriented and transparent “Strategi 6.4” approach that Brondby have adopted, in the form of Mads Hermansen.

However, they won’t be able to do so for much longer as he has quickly outgrown the club. Attracting Hermansen to Ibrox would be difficult and require a substantial investment, but boy, it would be safe. Hermansen is a pure all-rounder, showing off shot-stopping, ball-playing and sweeping skills and tendencies aplenty. He may not be the tallest, standing at just 187cm, but his supreme athletic profile compensates. Hermansen would arrive immediately as an antidote to all who pick apart, often rightly so, the defences of McLaughlin and McGregor, providing a reasonably bullet-proof skillset and an almost 100 per cent guarantee of profit down the line.

Jindrich Stanek, Viktoria Plzen

Stanek was a crucial cog in Plzen’s 2021/22 team who usurped Slavia Prague's position as kings of the Czech Republic.

The Czech international spent three years of his early career in England, turning out for a plethora of lower league clubs whilst on loan from Everton. Upon returning to the Czech Republic, Stanek worked his way up to the Champions through Ceske Budejovice.

Stanek stands at a muscular 192cm with an imposing beard to match. The Czech is another who profiles as a genuine all-rounder, profiling and showing off terrific shot-stopping, sweeping, and ball-playing skill and tendencies. At 26, Stanek is still yet to hit his true prime and likely has the best part of a decade of top performances ahead of him. Getting Stanek out of Plzen this summer would have been impossible given their Champions League aspirations, but with Slavia and Sparta looking more robust than the Plzen outfit, the summer of 2023 may be the opportune time to pluck him out of the Czech Republic.

Jean Butez, Antwerp

If Butez has been anywhere near Rangers radar, they should have struck this summer as Antwerp have started red hot. Their collective form has been matched by the 2021/22 player of the year who has continued to be a safe pair of hands. The Belgian is not the most active goalkeeper but does like to sweep, and when compared to McGregor, he looks like a centre-back. He’s an incredible shot-stopper, equally safe and expansive. He will likely be out of the club's range come June 2023, but if there is any chance, every lead should be tracked down.

Vladan Kovacevic, Rakow Czestochowa

Kovacevic was linked to Rangers early in the transfer window but to no avail. The Bosnian recently extended his contract in Poland until 2026, more likely a move to retain value than any sort of pledge to Rakow until 2026. He’s more of a traditional keeper than the rest of the pack, trading sweeping and ball-playing qualities for pure shot-stopping. Regardless, Rangers should monitor him in the Ektraklasa, and maybe the Conference League should Rakow qualify, with an eye to potentially recruiting him next summer.

Ivo Grbic, Atletico Madrid

Grbic was a wall during his early years in Croatia and, as a result, his path led to Madrid, with Atletico recruiting him from Lokomotiva in 2020.

Since arriving in the Spanish capital, Grbic has only seen the pitch once. He did spend a reasonably productive year in Lille but failed to convince the French team to exercise their buy clause. This is no slight on the Croatian as Lille has been steeped in financial problems in years gone past, and being good enough for one of France’s top sides is not a fair litmus test for Rangers.

Grbic is a very strong shot-stopper and incredibly imposing, filling the goal like a seven-a-side keeper. Not necessarily the most competent on the ball, he would still represent a clear upgrade on McGregor and provide parity with McLaughlin. Still, he is a far more aggressive and intimidating aerial threat than either. Grbic’s deal expires in 2024, so next summer represents the last juncture at which Atletico can generate a decent income, and Rangers should be one of many suitors looking to offer a pay packet to the club and player.

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Hirve Koffi, Charleroi

Koffi the Cat! The nickname says it all. The Burkinabe international is a tremendous shot-stopper with incredible reflexes and diving ability. Another strong all-rounder, although his trump card is his shot-stopping above all else. He’s a good on-ball presence and is generally a risk-taker coming out of his box when in possession and when sweeping, which may give a few at Ibrox a good scare. He’s pretty short, but as his nickname suggests, he makes up for it with his jumping ability. Another option whose contract expires in June 2024, he also has his best years firmly ahead of him, so Rangers could pick him up for a decent deal next summer and look to profit down the line.

Kevin Mier, Atletico Nacional

The left-field shout. Mier is much like Hermansen, a true all-rounder born in 2000 with at least 15 years of top-quality play ahead. The Colombian has dominated the domestic circuit over the past 12 months, locking down the Nacional net with a nice mix of positioning, reflexes, and strong wrists.

Nacional is a ball-dominant side, and as such, Mier enjoys long swathes of possession, looking the part and executing both safe and progressive passing with accuracy. The elephant in the room, no doubt, is the likelihood that Mier speaks no English and has no European experience. Still, if the last 12 months have taught us anything, for the most part, these circumstances are overblown as football is football.

Regardless, transporting any youngster halfway across the world poses a risk. Not everyone can assimilate like Alfredo Morelos, but you wouldn’t expect Nacional to drive a hard bargain, so risk could be minimised with some crafty negotiation.