Rangers ‘Strike Deal’ For Former Ibrox Midfield Target | OneFootball

Rangers’ summer transfer window continues to gather momentum behind the scenes with many names being put forward and countless agents doing the usual job of punting their clients toward clubs who might take a bite. As always Ibrox is a favoured destination for many of these players and the latest name to appear back on the radar is Joe Rothwell. This is a name that will be familiar to many Rangers supporters as he has previously been linked with the club and it would appear that his name has resurfaced again as a potential acquisition.

What Rangers fans need to know here is the true level of Rothwell as a player. Despite over 30 appearances in the Premier League he has never once stood out as a genuine top-flight performer. The truth is he has spent the overwhelming majority of his career in the Championship and League One which is a more accurate reflection of his actual level. While making a squad contribution in the Premier League is not to be dismissed it is hardly an endorsement of elite-level talent either. And it is that mediocrity which makes this link a distinctly underwhelming one for many at Ibrox, as we pointed out when Rangers considered him in 2021.

Ibrox Noise was not excited about this potential signing the last time Rothwell was linked with a move to Rangers and nothing has changed this time around either. It is not that the midfielder is without any merit. He is an experienced pro who has played for a number of solid English clubs and he has a touch of technical ability. But he does not bring anything to the Rangers squad that we do not already have. In fact he is arguably a downgrade on some of the players currently in the engine room. And with a huge season ahead under new manager Russell Martin the last thing Rangers need is more filler. We are not in the business of signing players because they once showed promise or turned out for a Championship-level side like Nottingham Forest.

It is not about signing marquee names or paying inflated wages for the sake of headlines. It is about bringing in the right quality to raise the standards at Ibrox. Rothwell does not fit that bill. His signing would not improve Rangers and would only serve to further dilute the quality already in the squad. We already have midfielders like Mohamed Diomande who divide opinion and bringing in another player of similar level or lower simply does not move us forward.

We would argue that more ambition is needed than this. Whether it is Conor Coady in defence or attacking options like Kwame Poku Rangers should be aiming to bring in players who will take the first team up a level. Players who are ready to compete in Europe and wrestle back the title from Celtic. Not squad players who could just as easily be turning out for Preston or Birmingham on a Saturday afternoon.

This is not personal toward Rothwell. He is doing what any footballer does in seeking a good move at a big club and Rangers remain a huge name in the British game. But from the Ibrox point of view this is not the type of signing we should be making if we are serious about progressing this summer. The recruitment team has a job on its hands and Russell Martin needs real tools to work with.

If Rothwell does arrive it will feel more like a convenient deal rather than a strategic one. And if we want to close the gap and take charge again in Scottish football then these types of moves are not going to get us there.

Source: GlasgowWorld