Rangers will need to sell a lot of players this summer if Philippe Clement is going to get the type of team that he wants. The manager has already seen five players leave and five new arrivals but there is still a lot of work to be done. The first player to leave Rangers who was under contract is Robby McCrorie having agreed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock. Rangers star sees Ibrox exit route close up as club prioritise £11m deal instead Highly rated by every manager, McCrorie has expressed his frustration about his last few years at Ibrox as well as his excitement for the future, speaking to Sky Sports: “I’ve been looking to do this for a long time now and the manager in Derek McInnes and the club in Kilmarnock has given me the opportunity and shown me the commitment to bring me here and get games. “So, I’m looking forward to the future. ‘From a football perspective, I wouldn’t say it was difficult, there was frustration the last couple of years. “From the emotional side, I’ve been there since I was eight years old, 18 years. “I was desperate for this to happen so, I’m glad it’s done now and I’m looking forward to what I can bring to Kilmarnock and what they can do for myself also. “I was always set on getting out and getting games.” 🗣️ “Derek McInnes and Kilmarnock have shown me the commitment. I’m looking forward to the future.” Our Robby McCrorie exclusive on joining Kilmarnock, taking a pay cut to seal his Rugby Park move, leaving Rangers, Scotland hopes & more ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FqWGXIPWiy McCrorie right to jump ship in bid to achieve his goals Put it another way, if McCrorie had been an outfield player, he would have kept his place in the team under both Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale. When you consider that Gerrard reinstalled a 40-year old with back problems who had been out of form instead of showing McCrorie a bit of faith, it’s only a wonder the former Scotland youth international didn’t demand to leave sooner. Replaced already by Liam Kelly, McCrorie had come to the point in his career where he had to leave, especially with Jack Butland ahead of him. The Scotland number one jersey is currently held by Angus Gunn but he has come in for criticism recently given the number of goals that the national team has conceded. McCrorie has every right to aim high and should be targeting a place in Steve Clarke’s squad on merit rather than potential. McCrorie left the door open for a return to the club he supports and, who knows, if he impresses over the next few seasons, he could well be first in line to replace Butland – whenever that time comes. Club will ‘do everything’ as Rangers look to swoop for midfield playmaker Philippe Clement has a difficult job this summer with almost every area of his Rangers team needing major surgery. The squad’s biggest issue in the past has been injuries but the manager will be hoping that the necessary changes have now been made so that he has his best players available more often. There is also an obvious need to recruit better with players from all over the world being linked so far. One area that is still short is midfield. Ryan Jack and John Lundstram have both departed with only Connor Barron heading in the opposite direction. The need for a playmaking number six isn’t a new one but it is a situation that has been worsened by the two experienced midfielders leaving. Le Havre keen to hold onto Oussama Targhalline amid Rangers link A name that recently emerged is Le Havre youngster Oussama Targhalline, a player who Madein Foot’s Maxime Guy has reported that his club are in no rush to let him go: “Maintained in Ligue 1 at the end of an up-and-down season, Le Havre will do everything to extend the contract of promising midfielder Oussama Targhalline. But HAC will have to work twice as hard to keep him. “Oussama Targhalline will liven up the Le Havre summer transfer window. The Moroccan has been pretty good this season despite physical problems that have slowed his progress. “But at 22 years old, the former Olympique de Marseille player could well become the hub of Didier Digard ‘s midfield.” The publication also reaffirmed Rangers interest in the Moroccan. In terms of style of play, Targhalline is a carbon copy of Germany great Emre Can. Not only is he capable of protecting the defence, but his composure in possession allows him to build play from the back and to dictate the tempo of games. At 6ft 1 inches tall, Targhalline also has the sort of physical profile needed to endure the rough and tumble of the Scottish game. Rangers need to fill space left by Hall of Fame playmaker It is an area of the park that is hugely important for Rangers. Not since Steven Davis have Rangers had a player capable of really controlling a game. Lundstram was hard working but he simply didn’t have the vision, intelligence or passing range needed to perform in that position. With just a year left on his Le Havre contract, it is make or break for the French outfit. Rangers are in a strong position if they are keen to sign the playmaker and could well broker a cut-price deal. It is the one area of the park where Rangers don’t need to sell before bringing anyone in because of the lack of a specific number six. Having been signed on inexpensive deals, moving fringe players like Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes shouldn’t be a hindrance. The future of Cyriel Dessers is a hot topic of debate in Rangers circles at the moment. The Nigerian international striker, 29, blew hot and cold for the club last season and despite netting 22 goals, the jury is very much out over whether not he can bear the burden of Rangers’ number 9 jersey. Cyriel was signed in a reported £4.5m deal last summer and the very notion that Rangers could recoup the same amount for Dessers this pre-season has split fans right down the middle. With some already writing Cyriel Dessers off at Rangers, others reckon the striker’s Ibrox best is very much in front of him. But with Dessers linked with moves across Europe and the Middle East, two leading journalists have provided an update on the latest transfer reports surrounding the striker. Those Cyriel Dessers links to Cagliari certainly made for interesting reading for Rangers fans this week. A return to Serie A was first mooted in Italy, but the suggestion that a potential loan-to-buy could be struck for the striker didn’t go down well at Ibrox. Rangers star sees Ibrox exit route close up as club prioritise £11m deal instead Now, those reports linking Cyriel Dessers with Cagliari have been rebuffed by two leading Scottish journalists. Chris Jack of the Rangers Review claims that suggestions the Italians are closing in on the striker have been ‘downplayed’ within the corridors of power at Ibrox. Writing for the Daily Record, Andy Newport has echoed these sentiments by suggesting Rangers have ‘yet to be contacted’ by Cagliari over any transfer. It comes with Cyriel Dessers starting the club’s pre-season friendly with Standard Liege in the Netherlands, the striker drawing a blank in a 0-0 draw. Rangers striker reinforcements expected With the debate raging around Dessers’ suitability to lead the Rangers frontline, it’s clear the striker has a role to play next season so long as he is at the club. As Brazilian striker Danilo returns from a devastating knee injury which pretty much spoiled his first season in Scotland he’ll have some assistance too. Throw in the addition of Hamza Igamane – who takes the perennially injured Kemar Roofe’s place in the squad – and suddenly the forward options look much healthier in Glasgow’s south side. With the situation surrounding Abdallah Sima also unclear and Wolves loanee Fabio Silva returning to the Premier League side, Rangers are reportedly on the hunt for another forward option. Should Cyriel Dessers leave Ibrox, then Rangers would also have to replace the ex-Cremonese hitman. Despite the extensive transfer reporting, Philippe Clement is pressing on with the striker in pre-season and until the situation changes, we expect that to continue.GET MORE RELATED CONTENT ON SPORTWORD.CO.UK
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