£9.2m Rangers problem Koppen has to solve to aid Clement rebuild
07/04/2024 01:30 PM
One of the biggest complaints seen amongst Rangers fans this summer has been the apparent lack of senior or first-team ready players arriving at the club.
Philippe Clement will have money to spend and to upgrade his squad and the players who have already been announced have been shrewd acquisitions.
Experience and quality tends not to come cheap though and Rangers will need to open the cheque book for those who would be considered as upgrades.
However, it's not as simple as this.
Rangers need to make room to sign high earning experience
Experienced players and those who command higher transfer fees also command a higher weekly wage.
Rangers wage bill is already the highest in the league and must come down.
The five players who departed at the end of their contracts were all on decent wages with the four who have been signed likely to be on considerably less – which is a start.
The hope, is that there are widespread changes throughout the team, but how possible is this with the following players still reporting for duty at Auchenhowie?
All the salaries are provided by Salary Sport as we take a look at why a mass exodus might still be needed.
Connor Goldson – £37,000 per week
Dropped before injury curtailed his season, Clement already appears to have made his mind up about the vice-captain.
Linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and Birmingham City.
James Tavernier – £30,000 per week
The much-maligned skipper seems certain to be reunited with Steven Gerrard with Heart and Hand confident that he won't be at the club after the window closes.
Saudi Arabia, again, the most likely destination.
Ben Davies – £27,000 per week
Has never really settled at Rangers.
Looked good after returning to the team at the end of last season, but Clement clearly doesn't fancy him.
Sheffield United are said to be considering taking him back after being relegated to the Championship.
Tom Lawrence – £22,000 per week
With Todd Cantwell the preferred choice despite looking like he could be moved on and Ianis Hagi to come back, Lawrence's injury record means that he will be the favourite to be sold.
Already attracting interest from England.
Kieran Dowell – £16,000 per week
Showed flashes of potential and has obvious technical and physical qualities but just couldn't stay fit.
It's been quiet in terms of his future at the club, if he stays fit he could be useful – if.
Sam Lammers – £18,000 per week
That he hasn't been seen in pre-season training yet suggests that his future has already been decided.
Multiple clubs in the Netherlands have been credited with wanting to sign the Rangers flop.
Cyriel Dessers – £27,000 per week
Despite having a good season in terms of numbers, Rangers can't go into next season with Dessers as the first-choice striker.
Clubs in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have all been linked and he will want to go somewhere where he will be guaranteed to be the main man.
There are other fringe players who will need to be moved on, however, these are the high earners in the squad and the ones who, without selling them, will restrict what business can be done this summer.
In total they cost, at least, £177,000 per week or £9.2m per year with a questionable value for money.
There is money to be spent, but the last thing that Clement and Koppen will want is a bloated squad with even more money sitting in the Ibrox stands every other week.
