Rangers may be looking to bolster their defensive line as Michael Beale adds new names across the pitch in the transfer market.
The Light Blues will want to shore up at the back with experienced heads such as Connor Goldson and James Tavernier fuelling up for a full season under Beale but with new arrivals looking to make their mark. The most promising is former Chelsea kid Dujon Sterling, who signed in May on a four-year deal from the the English Premier League giants. The 23-year-old will be eager to learn from defensive partner Goldson and co, bringing a versatility to the backline.
On the other hand Rangers could ill-afford to lose Ben Davies with transfer interest said to be mounting on the former Liverpool man. The 27-year-old was the subject of a £4m swoop last summer but suffered with injuries and setbacks at Ibrox, finishing the season strong under Beale. Yet should the ex-Anfield star leave in the transfer window, it would result in a lack of depth in that position for the London boss.
Rising youngster Leon King has impressed many while John Souttar bounced back from a tough injury to prove his worth to many after a rocky start. Yet the likes of American Auston Trusty and Jonathan Panzo have been linked with moves to Glasgow in the summer. The former, an Arsenal star, has been in high demand with reports suggesting interest in his signature has emerged from two clubs in Holland.
Meanwhile Panzo, said to be rated at £2.5million, has taken the eye of interested parties from England and Germany as the Nottingham Forest man weighs up his next move. Rangers may have to fight off some big names to land the 22-year-old as Record Sport revealed that Beale is a long-time admirer of the centre-half.
Yet a less-explored option remains on the table for the Scottish side, with permutations set in motion by the departure of Robin Koch from Leeds United. The Elland Road fans were disappointed to see the German join Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan and are now calling on reported Rangers target Charlie Cresswell to be handed a new deal.
The now English Championship side, according to the Yorkshire Post, could end up with the 20-year-old being the only right-sided centre half on their books next season. The fears of a reported release clause remain, while Rangers are touted in the report alongside Middlesbrough in terms of interest in the England Under-21.
Cresswell fits the profile and model of the acquisition of Sterling, and Beale may be aware that the defender's contract is up at Elland Road in June of 2025 but that his current deal was signed two years ago. Since then, according to the report, his stock among fans has risen considerably with some taking to social media to urge the centre-half to pen fresh terms with clubs continuing to swirl.
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