Rangers will need to address the issue of the lack of home grown players available to Philippe Clement, but it looks as though steps are being taken to improve it.
The manager was hamstrung in the Europa League this season and couldn’t name senior players due to a shortage of Scots in the squad.
The Sun has reported that Rangers have made a ‘stunning’ move to improve the numbers with a familiar face being given the green light to return to the club by Philippe Clement.
Liam Kelly tipped to return to Rangers in Bosman deal
Liam Kelly left Rangers when Wes Foderingham was number one and could feel aggrieved at never really getting a chance.
He was Scotland’s Under-21 goalkeeper and has since gone on to have a solid career, earning a regular place in the senior squad in the process as well as a recent link to Celtic.
Steve Clarke could have been kinder when he handed the Motherwell stopper his international debut though.
A makeshift Scotland team faced a full strength France, and it’s safe to say that it was a one-sided affair.
On a free transfer, signing Liam Kelly makes a lot of sense for Rangers.
Robby McCrorie only has a year left of his current deal and might not want to play second fiddle for another season.
At 26-years old, he would be more than entitled to look for the chance to play regularly.
What Kelly would also do, is give Rangers a safety blanket should they decide to cash in on Jack Butland.
Obviously, Kelly isn’t on Butland’s level, however, he has enough experience to cover and has a solid reputation.
Speaking in the January transfer window, Clement confirmed that the transfer model has to be sorted:
“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.
“You don’t have the situation where you have players of value going free at the end of contract – it can never happen.”
Kelly move ticks a lot of boxes for Rangers
What this means in the short term is that, unless he signs a new deal, McCrorie will likely be sold as well as the departure of Jon McLaughlin.
Liam Kelly automatically becomes a like-for-like replacement.
A player who Clement could trust as a backup and, if needs be, play in the first-team.
Butland has shown this season how big a difference an elite goalkeeper can make after Allan McGregor’s decline blotted his return to the club.
Kelly, if signed, won’t be returning to Ibrox as Butland’s replacement, but he at least provides depth to a shallow position in recent years.
He is also fully aware of the standards needed around Auchenhowie.
