Following the impact that Belgian former centre half, Phillipe Clement, had on Rangers when he first arrived through the Ibrox doors as Michael Beale’s replacement, everyone knew that this would be a huge summer for him – both in terms of finally having a pre season, but also more importantly having more than the naturally more inflated January transfer window to deal in and make the changes he wanted.
We have already seen a number of departures given our aging squad as they came to their natural contract ends, and Clement and Nils Koppen (director of football) have already made some significant moves and signings that will freshen the first team squad up and his available options, and they should allow him real money online casino choices as we go into the season that is ahead of us. Clement’s plan also sees us reduce the overall age and also, very importantly, give us sell on potential that we have often lacked in more recent years.
Our focus, and aim, was getting back to our rightful place at the top of the Scottish Premiership table and back into European competition, and we did need to sensibly spend our way there as we played catch up after the previous nonsense that occurred. But we are there now, and Clement is totally right that in an effort to consolidate and improve our current position, in order to build on his achievements last season, it means taking a longer focus so we do not make the mistakes of old.
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That means looking to the future, selling players at peak valuation but very importantly, replacing them appropriately with similar talent, even if they need a little bit of time to find their feet and reach the potential we see in them.
We cannot keep spending, Rangers make good money buys (usually, not every transfer works out) but as good as our acquisition and eye for talent has been, we have long woefully lost sight of making major transfers out. For far too many years good players have moved on for free, or at best, minimal fees, and although the club did massively well with the sales of Calvin Bassey and Nathan Patterson in very recent seasons, we have to go back to the season of 2001/02 before we last received eight figures for a notable player.
Some fans will disagree on my eight figure focus, but it is the modern games inflation, and simply put, those at Ibrox need to do better and it seems that Clement is one of the people who realises that this is true and whether we like it or not.
It does not tell the whole story, but James Tavernier’s goal scoring record speaks for itself. We know it is penalties in the main, but that boy has a foot that we have benefitted from and it has long gained interest.
He continues to be linked with a move away, and a move abroad, and as one of our most saleable assets, it would make a lot of sense if the club sanctioned such a deal. Tavs’ biggest plus is scoring, but as everyone knows that as a right back his defending can often be lacking.
Should he leave he goes with grace, thanks, and he’s more than welcome back.
But it’s time cashed in when we can.
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