Brian Laudrup has warned Michael Beale that his Rangers rebuild MUST result in them unearthing their own versions of Kyogo and Jota, otherwise they've no chance of turning the tide on Celtic.
The Gers saw their season ended in terms of winning any sort of silverware at Hampden on Sunday as the Portuguese headed the Hoops into the Scottish Cup final against Inverness CT. It was the holders’ last chance to salvage some success this season, but Beale failed to beat their rivals yet again despite a second half improvement.
Questions are being asked as to how he can possibly mount a serious challenge to Ange Postecogloui’s Treble chasers next term. Laudrup reckons it’s going to take a recruitment hit rate that’s not been seen at Ibrox for some time, and that his former club must take inspiration from across the city if they are to really give themselves a serious shot.
He wrote in his Daily Mail column: “We didn’t really learn anything new about Rangers at Hampden on Sunday. If anything, it was like watching an old movie on repeat. The same mistakes. The same outcome.
“A trophyless season means it's all about the summer rebuild now. Michael Beale admits it will be the biggest the club has seen in years. It's going to be a huge challenge. Rangers simply have to get these signings right. The hit-rate needs to rocket to a level not seen in recent windows. Otherwise, they won't have any chance of turning the tide next season.
“The pressure is very much on. Several areas of the squad need addressed, but I'm going to start up front. Investment there is absolutely essential.
“It's blindingly obvious Beale needs to find a new star striker. And at least one winger who poses a consistent attacking threat.
“We're not just talking about good players who are nice to watch in general play. Forget that. I'm thinking about players who will deliver numbers in terms of goals. Real numbers. Positive change won't happen unless these positions are filled correctly. As such, there's an argument for directing a decent amount of any available budget towards them.
“You only need to look across the city. In terms of consistency of output, Rangers need their own answers to Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota. That's basically it. I actually think Beale's side matched Celtic well between the boxes on Sunday. The gameplan was decent again. But up front was so poor.
“You could easily have hooked off Alfredo Morelos at half-time. He gave Rangers nothing. Ryan Kent, unfortunately, was the same. I know he was just coming back from injury, so perhaps he wasn't fully fit. But he didn't deliver at all before his early replacement.
“Last week, I wrote about my hopes of Morelos and Kent going out with a bang as their contracts end. Sadly, they're going with a whimper instead. There's no doubt they have been very good players for Rangers when you consider the entirety of their time in Glasgow. It's sad to see it ending in this disappointing way, but a fresh start looks best for all sides.
“Of course, Fashion Sakala came on at half-time for Kent and missed an open goal. Again. The Zambian's erratic nature continues to hurt the positives he possesses.
“To me, though, a more intriguing situation surrounds the other player picked in an advanced role on Sunday. Rangers have a huge call to make on Malik Tillman. In an ideal world, I would activate the reported £5million clause to sign Tillman from Bayern in a heartbeat. At 20, he's got so much potential.
“But what proportion would it take out of the budget this summer? And how might it impact on funds available for the ready-made, game changing replacements needed for Morelos and Kent?
“That's my concern. Those other attacking positions might be where the money is better spent.
“It's no slight on Tillman. We've yet to see him really influence an Old Firm game in a creative sense but his attitude and effort looked spot-on before being injured on Sunday. The question now is possibly a financial one. Plus, of course, how Tillman feels about it all.
“To go to the opposite end of the pitch, it's clear a new goalkeeper will be arriving and Jack Butland has already been linked. Allan McGregor has been a magnificent player for Rangers. Whatever the issues might have been this season, the 41-year-old can leave with his head held high. No question.
“More debate surrounds the back four. All of those who started at Hampden are under contract, although Borna Barisic is entering his final 12 months.
“It was interesting to see Ridvan Yilmaz on for the latter stages of the semi-final. We've seen so little of this £5m signing. Injuries have played a part but they're not the whole story.
“Does Yilmaz get the nod next season to show what the big investment was all about? And could that mean Barisic might be allowed to leave? Given the Croatian is 30, there is clearly a decision to be made on his contract.
“At centre-back, the jury is still out on Ben Davies. He made that big error in the last league game against Celtic and I felt he was hesitant at Hampden. He doesn't look like someone with a lot of confidence at the minute. Connor Goldson was certainly Rangers' best defender and I'd regard him as vital going forward. While James Tavernier made a mistake at Celtic's goal, his attacking output is still so strong. I can't see any way either Goldson or Tavernier leave. As for the other two in defence? That's more interesting.
“Beale has made a very positive start in midfield with the January additions of Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell. Okay, Raskin was among those at fault in the crazy concession but he's shown more than enough overall. The same goes for Cantwell. I liked his attitude. Raskin and Cantwell will be fully acclimatised to Scottish Football when next season comes around. I expect them to be leaders through their performances on the park because I think they've got that ability.
“From Beale's perspective, the summer now can't come quickly enough. He's got a massive job on his hands. I repeat that I think his gameplan was right against Celtic in the last two matches. There isn't too much he can do from the sidelines if players switch off at one end and miss open goals at the other .
“But a lot of fans are very upset and disillusioned. Understandably so, as Celtic stand on the brink of another Treble.
“It's now three Old Firm defeats in a row for Beale after a draw in January. And that's why May 13 at Ibrox still matters. Even if it's meaningless in terms of the Premiership title.
“The final game of the season against Celtic is a chance for Beale to alter the Old Firm statistics attached to him \u0097 unfairly or not \u0097 and for these players to give supporters back the smallest crumb of comfort.
“It's pretty desperate that the campaign has come to this for Rangers. The next one cannot be the same.”
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