It’s a short flight to Germany but Michael Beale will have been sitting comfortably at the front of the plane thinking about the guys in the rows behind him.
The Rangers manager will be flying with six new faces on board by this stage in pre-season – especially with the latest being one of their biggest targets. There was a lot of talk about Cyriel Dessers in the last few weeks and there were times it looked like Cremonese might’ve priced him out of the market. But Rangers managed to get the deal over the line at last and I’m sure Beale is absolutely delighted.
Dessers is clearly a striker he’s had his eye on for a long time. It’s a player who was flagged up back when Steven Gerrard was in charge, and I suspect a few of the new recruits are in the same boat. He’s finally got his man and it looks an encouraging signing. I said at the end of the season the big priority was sorting out both ends of the pitch – the goalkeeper and striker.
Beale has now done that. He’s taken full charge of the recruitment drive. We had all the stuff about Ross Wilson before but he’s taken it all on his shoulders. He’s been given good backing and he’s landing the players he wants.
Beale brought in Jack Butland, who is a goalkeeper with a wealth of experience and pedigree, who sounds really up for the challenge at Ibrox. Now he’s added Dessers, who you’d expect to lead the line. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of the Nigerian international. He’s a big, strong forward with plenty of ability, and he’s scored goals at a good level across Europe.
The numbers might not be spectacular but he’s proved he can hit the net in the likes of Holland and Italy and he looks like a player who can get the 20-plus league goals plus a season Rangers need. At over 6ft, he’s a physical presence as well, and there’s a fair few of them in that dressing room now.
The thing about Rangers strikers is you’ll always get opportunities and this is the one Michael believes can put them away. He’ll need help from the other attacking players, as that was always something labelled against the side.
We know Ryan Kent was a top player but he didn’t manage the goal return required. The likes of Malik Tillman chipped in – and I’m sure Tom Lawrence would have if he’d stayed fit – but there needs to be a front four who can each hit double figures.
Beale now has his frontline in place as well as the time and space to get them bedded in over in Germany and in the rest of pre-season. You’d say there’s been some decent business, even if we do have to reserve judgement until it kicks off for real.
The frontline has been revamped with Abdallah Sima coming in from Brighton and Sam Lammers. Elsewhere Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell were picked up on free transfers and they’ll freshen up the side.
Beale could have looked behind him on the plane and been pretty happy at what he saw – and I’m sure there will be more to come. There’s six in the door already but I wouldn’t be surprised if the final tally gets to ten – or maybe even more.
Beale isn’t done yet as I’d expect him to be looking at adding another centre back, and perhaps another midfielder. There will also inevitably be ones going in the other direction.
The talk last season was trimming the squad a tad and although some have gone already, the additions probably have kept the numbers at a similar level. Departures are inevitable. I look at players like Glen Kamara, who have been top performers for Rangers, but might think it’s time for a new challenge. Ianis Hagi is a talent but he has had a tough time and might want a fresh start.
Ben Davies at the back has never looked that comfortable as a
Rangers players, so he might be another one. You also have to look at the likes of Borna Barisic, who is heading into the last year of his contract. It gets to the stage where it might be sign a new deal or be sold.
There will be moves and money coming in, and they might dictate what Rangers do next in the market. In the meantime they need to put in the hard yards in pre-season to get ready for the battle ahead.
Maybe I was a glutton for punishment, but I loved this time of year. It’s changed days from when I started out running up and down Arthur’s Seat until I dropped. I’m not saying players are more professional now but they do get less of a summer, so they are coming back at a higher level of fitness.
Going away with the team is great. It’s a chance to bond with the new players, for the manager to get his ideas across and to build that foundation of fitness for a long and hard season ahead.
At Rangers and Celtic you go from Europe to domestic games and even draws are treated like a crisis. The new Rangers players will get that drummed into them over in Germany and with more business in the next few weeks, Beale’s in a good place to get off to a flyer.
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