Rangers found out the hard way – during the first transfer window of the Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen era – that identifying full-back signings was a lot easier than getting them over the line.
The Glasgow giants had their approach for Liverpool youngster – and Dundee loan star – Owen Beck blocked.
They missed out on former Hibernian starlet Josh Doig too. Anass Salah-Eddine and Fredrik Oppegard opted to stay in the Eredivisie, while Jefte Vital, despite seeing Rangers agree terms with Fluminense, missed out on a move of his own with his loan deal at APOEL Nicosia running until the summer.
Rangers’ pursuit of Ben Johnson, it seems, is destined to end in similar disappointment.
Rangers held talks with West Ham’s Ben Johnson
The Daily Record reports that the West Ham United academy graduate, who HITC understands has turned down a number of attempts to extend a contract which expires in July, will instead join Crystal Palace on a free transfer.
Oliver Glasner, the man who broke Rangers hearts in the 2022 Europa League final while in control of Eintracht Frankfurt, appears destined to get one over on the Scottish Premiership challengers again with his move to Selhurst Park seen as ‘almost certain’ at this stage.
Two-footed and versatile, Johnson could have been one of those ‘two birds with one stones’ sort of signings at Rangers. A right-back by trade but one who is also comfortable filling in on the left, in a manner similar to that of Dujon Sterling, one of the few unquestioned successes of the Mick Beale-led recruitment drive.
“I’m happy to play wherever the manager wants to put me,” he said recently. “I like to think I’m willing to learn. I want to fill in wherever the team needs me and do the best I can.
Johnson now looks set to stay in London, despite Rangers opening talks over a deal that would have seen the 24-year-old move north of the border instead (The Athletic).
Gers need to replace Borna Barisic
Clement is definitely in the market for a left-back, with Borna Barisic seemingly destined for Trabzonspor. A new right-back may be required too, if that Saudi interest in James Tavernier turns the head of the talismanic Rangers skipper.
Tavernier has a staggering 24 goals and 11 assists from full-back this term, and Rangers may find it nigh-on impossible to replace him with a man capable of putting up similar numbers in the final third.
“It’s not the first time Tav gives a cross like that,” striker Cyriel Dessers smiled after Tavernier set up his winner at St Mirren last weekend. “That’s his quality. He can do it.
“He can decide a game with one cross, and that’s what he did today. As a striker, you need to make the good movement in the box and be there in the right moment to score the goal.”
Rangers are reportedly stepping up their summer plans, and look set to make varying decisions on loanees Abdallah Sima and Fabio Silva. The latter, largely underwhelming since arriving from Wolves, would reportedly cost a club-record fee.
Ditto the highly-rated Krasnodar playmaker Eduard Spertsyan.
