Rangers Takeover Looks to be One Step Closer
As part of a US-based consortium that has been linked with a takeover of Rangers, it was an important step and a public message that fortunes could soon change for the Glasgow team.
Their bitter Glasgow rivals have enjoyed a few trophy-laden seasons, and performances from players like Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have seen many of the top bookmakers recommended for Japanese punters see a lot of money backing the green side of the city. These sites cover both Scottish and international sports matches and provide sports fans with competitive odds.
However, with the search for a new manager and potential investment, Rangers could be on the verge of a return to winning ways. Legendary Rangers manager Bill Struth once spoke of inevitable years of failure and the importance of remaining calm to emerge stronger. Following more than a decade of struggle for Rangers, with the side forced to the bottom of the Scottish football league because of bad financial management, the fans have stayed loyal and look set to be repaid for this.
The takeover is being masterminded by 49ers Enterprise, who own Leeds United, and Andrew Cavanagh, with reports that the group is attempting to buy 51% of the club. There has been a lot of talk about what this will mean for the club, which has been without a permanent manager since the Belgian Philippe Clement was sacked.
Barry Ferguson took temporary charge, and despite performing admirably in Europe, his domestic form has been inconsistent. A great victory at Celtic Park seemed to help his claim to the job, but poor form since then has seen him drop down the odds of becoming the next permanent boss. The current favourites for the job are former manager Steven Gerrard and Marco Rose, most recently of RB Leipzig.
Having also been successful with Red Bull Salzburg, the 49ers have links to Red Bull, and have put the German's name near the top of the list. There have also been strong links with a Red Bull sponsorship deal for Rangers that could help the club improve its finances and strengthen the squad for next season.
Despite another trophyless season, Rangers does have some players that could attract interest over the Summer. Nico Raskin has had a great season, and the young Belgian put in a man-of-the-match performance in his full international debut.
Other players like the Brazilian full-back Jefte and Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane have also been linked with big-money moves, with some Premier League teams south of the border said to be monitoring developments.
Another player that could be on his way out of Ibrox this Summer is Cyriel Dessers. The Belgian-born Nigerian international finished as Rangers' top scorer last season and is on track to repeat that achievement this year, and has notched an admirable 46 goals and 16 assists in 105 games for the club. His performances in Europe have also turned heads, but he still receives criticism from some quarters of the fan base and could be moved on for a decent price.
When the deal is confirmed and a new manager is in place, the Glasgow giants will undoubtedly face a lot of transfer speculation, and they must make the right signings to complement a young side with good potential. They have already agreed a pre-contract deal with Dundee's Lyall Cameron, and a similar deal could be secured for his teammate Josh Mulligan, who can operate in defence or midfield.
Rangers look set to lose Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun, who are all out of contract at the end of the season and haven't been offered new deals. They will be hopeful of working out a permanent deal for winger Vaclav Cerny, who has performed well this year, and options to buy Oscar Cortes and Neraysho Kasanwirjo will have to be looked at, with both players hardly featuring because of injury.
Financial fair play rules will mean that Rangers won’t go overboard with the spending. However, player sales and sponsorship deals could determine just how many new faces arrive at the club over the Summer.