Rangers fans might’ve urged change this summer but with the likes of John Lundstram and Ryan Jack moving on, the exits come at a cost.
The Gers support want a freshness breathed into the squad which for too long has been dominated by the same old names to the same old results.
Whilst the level-headed amongst the Rangers support will thank the five names who’ve left the club this summer for their service, there are around 750 Ibrox appearances to plug.
As Rangers reportedly target a host of young talents from across the globe, one could be fooled into thinking that Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen are underestimating the value of experience.
But with the Rangers manager himself claiming that additional older heads will be required this summer, the transfer sounds surrounding Kenny McLean have been reverberating around Ibrox.
Can McLean replace Rangers experience?
We have to be clear that there is absolutely nothing concrete surrounding Kenny McLean and links to Rangers.
Between social media and online forums the chatter is ramping up surrounding the 32-year-old and we’d like the chance to merely assess his Ibrox credentials.
With Rangers losing John Lundstram’s 53 appearances and the experience of Ryan Jack from midfield this summer, it’s an an area of the park which requires major surgery.
It’s also one of the areas of the pitch where we’ve heard very little on the transfer front.
The murmurs around Kenny McLean are interesting for a number of reasons, not least because he’s contracted to Norwich City for another two years.
The midfielder also has an option which could tie him to Carrow Road until 2027.
Having just signed a new contract with the Canaries before the turn of the year, undoubtedly on high wages in a Rangers context, a move for the midfielder smacks in the face of our revamped player trading efforts.
An aging international footballer on a high salary with no resale value doesn’t exactly scream Nils Koppen.
But before we completely write a move for Kenny McLean off, there are some big positives to a potential transfer.
Norwich POTY for a reason
The ex-Aberdeen midfielder is a boyhood bluenose and passionate Rangers fan who has been routinely linked with Ibrox over the course of his career.
McLean was also infamously released by the Gers academy as a youngster.
We get that the old adage about players who ‘get it’ might be a tired one.
But one of the most glaring differences between Rangers and Celtic is the level of commitment in the Parkhead side when it comes to the crunch.
Leadership is something we’re sorely lacking at Ibrox and if Kenny McLean was ever going to contribute, perhaps now is the time for him to live every Rangers fan’s dream.
There’s also the small detail that the midfielder is undoubtedly a very good player.
Currently in the Scotland squad for Euro 2024, McLean has just been named Norwich’s Player of the Year this season and made 48 league appearances for the club in the Championship this season.
Some of these included as a makeshift defender at centre-back.
As Rangers look to add more bite to the midfield battle, McLean’s ground duels win percentage makes for impressive reading.
As detailed by these stats compiled by Twitter statistician @louorns, there is no-one with a higher win percentage when it comes to those face-to-face battles in the English Championship.
All of this points to a very aggressive midfield player and when you add in McLean’s renowned range of passing the Scotland star is an albeit aging midfielder in the Barry Ferguson mould.
The treble-winning ex-Rangers captain might be one the greatest Scottish players of his generation and a tough act to follow.
But should another mobile and aggressive bluenose midfielder who has technical class and composure on the ball rock up at Ibrox, it’ll certainly have fans reminiscing.
Again we must stress that there is nothing official surrounding Kenny McLean and a move to Rangers at the time of writing.
But after six years and over 200 appearances at Norwich City, if the bluenose midfielder really wants the move and can engineer a cost-effective switch, we certainly aren’t against it.
Kenny McLean also isn’t the only Scotland international midfielder plying his trade down south who could be available this summer either.
