Glasgow Rangers booked their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a routine win over Fraserburgh at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.
The Light Blues struggled to break down the Highland League side effectively in the first half and went into the break with just a one-goal lead.
Philippe Clement brought on young players such as Zach Lovelace, Mason Moon and Clinton Nsiala, while Leon King and Bailey Rice came on in the second half.
In the end, the Gers won 5-0 and did a great job, but there was a more difficult task waiting for them in the game.
New signing Rafael Fernandez was unveiled in front of the crowd at half-time, joining Rangers on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy.
It could be a smart move for Clement, but he will need to make one or two more signings before the transfer window closes in two weeks, especially with the busy schedule over the next few months. And fast.
The club may not have to wait too long to sign a second player as they may await the arrival of another Dujon Sterling…
Dujon Sterling Rangers stats
Michael Beal makes Sterling his second summer signing At Rangers. He didn’t get many chances under Beale, but Clement saw the quality and Englishness in him Appeared 29 times Scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists for Ibrox in all competitions.
It’s not just that he’s becoming a reliable option; Sterling has also played in six positions, displaying his wonderful versatility.
In the Premier League this season, Sterling Pass completion rate 89%The team averaged a winning rate of 57% in ground duels per game and a conceding rate of only 5.6 times.
His performance against Celtic at Ibrox in early January was arguably his best since joining the club. Sterling plays as central defender Obtained nine permissionswon two of three contested duels and didn’t even take the ball in a shocking 3-0 win.
Dujon Sterling’s stats for Rangers this season | ||
|---|---|---|
Metric (per 90) | Premier League | european league |
Accurate passing | 28.6 | 8.6 |
Tackle | 1 | 0.6 |
Win the ground duel | 1.6 | 1.2 |
lose possession of the ball | 5.6 | 5 |
intercept | 0.7 | 0.6 |
As it happens, the Light Blues may welcome another versatile figure to the club this month…
Rangers have chance to sign new midfielder
Rangers reportedly made a move earlier in the transfer window Inquiries were made On the potential signing of CSKA Moscow maestro Sasa Zdjelar.
The Gers hope they can sign the player this month after FIFA granted foreign players the right to terminate their contracts with Russian clubs due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Now, according to Reporter Pete O’RourkeThe Russian club is preparing to let the midfielder leave Moscow this month. His contract expires this summer and the club are willing to accept a transfer fee this month rather than lose him for nothing.
The opportunity to sign a player like Zjelar could give Clement a huge boost. Not only can he function in the heart of midfield, but the Serbian is equally adept at centre-back.
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Considering the club’s recent defensive injury crisis, bringing in an adaptable player who can play multiple positions is undoubtedly a good thing.
If the Light Blues manage to sign Zjelar this month, he has the ability to be Clement’s Sterling 2.0, a major commodity that can fill a range of positions.
Why Rangers should sign Sasa Zjral
Clement’s mantra in the transfer market is to sign talented young players, develop them at Ibrox and then sell them for a huge profit.
Anyway, that’s the idea. Zjelar’s move is an outlier in terms of the Belgian’s usual signings, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be an attractive option.
Throughout his career, the midfielder Cumulative appearances exceed 400 times Five teams, missing Only 16 games Having been injured since the start of the 2020/21 season, it shows just how reliable he is.
scottish football writer Kay Watson praises “He mainly plays as a number six, but he can also play as a centre-back and has a lot of experience,” the player said of recent matches.
It might not be a bad idea to add some experience to the team. Considering that Zjelar can play two positions, Clement’s investment will be more cost-effective.
Rangers currently have plenty of attacking options to play in the final third, but the Serbian will provide some defensive stability in midfield.
In fact, the 29-year-old has Average 1.1 interceptions In the Russian top league this season, he completed 1.5 tackles, recovered 3.8 goals, and averaged a 64% win rate in confrontations per game.
These qualities will ensure he is able to succeed in Scottish football, cope with the physicality of the game and not be overwhelmed in the center of the pitch.
Sterling has proven that being adaptable can be a real benefit to the team and he can fill in certain positions if injuries or suspensions arise throughout the season.
While Fernandes recently joined the Gers to add defensive cover, Zjelar would also be an ideal player to bring to Ibrox this month.
A lot depends on how much of the budget Clement has to spend between now and the end of the window, but Thank you Rabbi and Kieran Dowell Free to leave Gers due to lack of game time. Clement should be able to raise funds and another player or two between now and the end of the transfer window could see another player linked with the Glasgow outfit.
There is no doubt that the next 14 days will definitely determine the success or failure of Rangers’ season.
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