Rangers continue to hunt new signings this summer and Nils Koppen’s plans may include bringing one target back to Ibrox.
Philippe Clement’s reign started so well but the end of the season felt a little flat.
A push for the Scottish Premiership title came up short and Rangers now head into the summer needing reinforcements.
Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe have all been let go and transfer chief Nils Koppen is now looking to make significant signings.
Jefte is already on board and winger Oscar Cortes is back for another loan spell from Lens but that is just the start of the business.
Fans are left waiting for updates on other targets such as Thomas Galdames and Albion Rrahmani, but one target is much, much close to home.
Liam Kelly to Rangers latest
Rangers are looking to land another goalkeeper this summer but don’t worry – there isn’t any immediate concern over Jack Butland’s future at Ibrox.
The goal is to bring in additional competition for Butland, especially after allowing veteran stopper McLaughlin to leave the club.
Rangers’ top target for that role is Motherwell stopper Liam Kelly.
Kelly is understood to be in talks over a move back to Ibrox and Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell confirmed his departure in May with the goalkeeper’s contract set to expire.
Motherwell have though confirmed an interesting note, stating that Kelly has actually extended his contract for the duration of Euro 2024.
Kelly is part of the Scotland squad heading to Germany and his decision to sign a new deal for another month entitles Motherwell to UEFA compensation.
Motherwell are now due a six-figure fee due to Kelly’s participation in Euro 2024, before then seeing him leave for free.
Kelly’s decision is a welcome gesture towards Motherwell having enjoyed three-and-a-half years at Fir Park.
The 28-year-old is still planning to leave this summer though and Rangers will be primed and ready to strike.
Kelly to replace Robby McCrorie
Kelly really appeals to Rangers as a homegrown goalkeeper – not just in terms of Scottish, but also as a club-trained player.
The Glasgow-born stopper joined the Rangers academy ranks aged just 10 and only left the club for Livingston in 2018, aged 22.
Kelly joined up with former Rangers boss Mark Warburton at Queens Park Rangers before shining with Motherwell.
Now seemingly destined to return to Ibrox, Kelly is the ideal replacement for Robby McCrorie as a club-trained goalkeeper.
McCrorie is wanted by Aberdeen and Rangers are willing to cash in for £500,000 as he seeks to earn first-team football elsewhere.
Cashing in on McCrorie and bringing in another Rangers-trained goalkeeper on a free transfer seems to be a very smart move and that seems to be the plan for Koppen and Clement this summer.
Kelly’s contract decision may just leave Rangers with a little more of a wait than first hoped but a deal is still in the pipeline – and could pave the way for McCrorie to move on.
