Rangers Linked With Motherwell Star In Deadline Push: Why Is He A Tactical Gamble Ibrox Probably Can’t Afford? | OneFootball

According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are being strongly considered as a potential destination for Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo, with talks expected to progress over the coming days. Longelo, who turns 26 in December, is actively pushing for a departure from Fir Park before the August transfer window slams shut. Motherwell, for their part, appear willing to let him go.

Rangers linked with Motherwell’s breakout left-back Emmanuel Longelo as deadline looms

The 25-year-old London-born defender had a remarkable debut season in Scottish football after arriving permanently from Birmingham City ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. He ended that season with 8 goals and 4 assists across 36 Scottish Premiership appearances, extraordinary numbers from a left-back. Rangers, meanwhile, are scrambling for defensive cover after Tuur Rommens picked up an injury, leaving a visible gap at left-back that the club are now racing to address before the window closes on deadline day.

Tavolieri’s report positions Rangers as one of the primary options on the table, though nothing is confirmed yet.

A tactical gamble Rangers probably can’t afford

MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND – MAY 09: Emmanuel Longelo of Motherwell celebrates his team’s first goal, an own-goal scored by Stephen Kingsley of Heart of Midlothian (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Motherwell FC and Heart of Midlothian FC at Fir Park on May 09, 2026 in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Right, let’s be honest about this one. Longelo’s goal return last season is the headline stat that will drag you in. 8 goals from a defensive position is genuinely elite output at Premiership level. He is rapid, he loves to get forward, and in transition he’s a serious threat. That much isn’t debatable.

But Rangers under Derek McInnes aren’t built for players like him. McInnes runs a tight defensive structure where full-backs are expected to stay disciplined, cover space, and not gamble on the ball. Longelo’s underlying numbers tell a different story. A 78.6% pass completion rate for a player being linked to a top-six side is low, and 6 yellow cards plus a red across one season points to a player who gets caught out and fouls his way back into position. That’s a problem in a back four, not a quirk, a genuine structural risk.

McInnes is already under pressure at Ibrox. Rangers crashed out of European qualification early, losing to Jablonec, and the heat is building. Blooding an attack-heavy, positionally loose full-back into that environment isn’t a fix. It’s a pressure release valve disguised as a transfer.

There’s no concrete internal interest from Rangers’ side, which suggests this could simply be intermediary noise in the final hours of the window. Rangers did sign James Penrice earlier in the window to address left-back depth, which makes this link feel even more like a panic push from Longelo’s camp rather than a genuine club priority. Longelo suits a five-back system with three centre-backs covering his defensive blind spots. At Rangers, those blind spots get exploited.