Philippe Clement will need to turnover a Rangers team that needs more than a new lick of paint in the summer with long term planning also a consideration being made.
The manager has voiced his concern already about the prospect of so many players in his squad leaving at the end of their contracts which, over the last two years, could be into double figures.
One of the other priorities for Philippe Clement is bringing in players to Rangers who can help with the club’s UEFA quota, make an impact in the first-team and potentially be sold for a profit further down the line.
READ MORE: All Philippe Clement Rangers signings made since 2024
Could Rangers return for Ethan Sutherland?
Speaking during the January transfer window, it is clear that Clement knows what he wants from the club moving forwards:
“It is getting a good balance in the squad, good experienced players and also young prospects that you can let grow to a higher level than Glasgow Rangers. That is the objective. And you need to have players who are in contract.
“So there is a lot of work to be done in that way, everybody in the club is working hard in that way to have clear vision of how to bring money into the club by developing players but getting results also, winning trophies.”
During January, three players arrived who are closer to profile that Clement was speaking about in terms of age, however, the home-grown issue still needs attention too.
One player who could be coming back to Ibrox is Ethan Sutherland.
An Auchenhowie student until he was 16, the St Mirren winger is now being eyed by a host of Premier League clubs after starring on loan at Alloa Athletic.
The 17-year old has just another year to run on his contract with St Mirren, but his two goals and six assists in 14 appearances in League 1 have been enough to persuade Rangers that they should compete with both Man City and Chelsea for his signature, according to Football Insider.
Sutherland ticks a lot of boxes for Rangers
This season has seen Clement crying out for a winger who could be promoted from the academy and make a difference following in the footsteps of Ross McCausland.
The exception with Sutherland is that he is exactly what Rangers need, a natural left footer.
It is one area of the squad that needs to be ripped up.
Oscar Cortes, Fabio Silva and Abdallah Sima are all on loan.
There is an option to buy Cortes that should be taken up and there are recent speculation has suggested that Sima could well return in the summer.
In Rabbi Matondo and Scott Wright, Rangers need better though and, with Ross McCausland already capable of offering back up, if Cortes and Sima are signed on permanent deals the fourth spot should go to a younger player.
Having left Rangers to drop down to St Mirren and then going out to League 1 on loan, Sutherland will be fully aware of what is on offer if he gets the chance to return to the club he grew up at.
He will also know, having seen McCausland from a distance, is that if he works hard in training and when he is given a chance in the first-team, then he will stay there.
We’ve already let him slip through our fingers once, surely we aren’t going to do it again?
