Hello, fellow Gers fans! Welcome to the Ibrox Insider, your go-to source for all things Rangers. As we dive into the latest news, it’s clear that the transfer business at Ibrox has slowed down in recent weeks. Let’s take a friendly look at why this is happening and what it means for our beloved team.
Transfer Activity Slowdown
The flurry of transfer activity that typically excites us during the window has notably tapered off. But fear not! There are good reasons behind this strategic pause. Rangers’ current squad is well-documented as being too large. Before we can bring in new talents, we need to offload some players. Having too many players can cause several issues.
Firstly, it leads to squad frustration, as senior players not getting enough game time can lead to discontent. Secondly, it imposes a financial strain, as paying wages for players who aren’t playing is not sustainable. Finally, selling players can generate funds needed for new signings.
Rangers Managers Said: We need to move players on!
Our manager, Philippe Clement, emphasised this week the need to move players on before new business can realistically be done. His comments highlight the delicate balancing act required in managing the squad size and wage bill effectively. Unfortunately, moving players has been challenging. One major stumbling block is the high wages some players are on. For instance, FC Utrecht recently abandoned their pursuit of re-signing Sam Lammers due to his high wages at Rangers, reportedly three times higher than Utrecht’s highest earner.
Summer Leaves Have Reduced the Wage Bill Significantly
Let’s take a closer look at some of the top earners who have left the club this year and those who remain. Over the summer, Kemar Roofe, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, and Jon McLaughlin all left at the end of their contracts, reportedly saving Rangers £83K a week on the wage bill.
| Players Name | Rumoured Weekly Wages |
| Kemar Roofe | £26,000 |
| John Lundstram | £22,000 |
| Borna Barisic | £21,000 |
| Ryan Jack | £8,000 |
| Jon McLaughlin | £6,100 |
| £83,100 |
On the flip side, Rangers have signed five younger players this transfer window, likely on lower wages.
Examining the Current Rangers Squad
Examining the current squad, we still have some high earners who did not play a lot of football for Rangers last year. These include Sam Lammers, Ben Davies, Danillo, Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence, Nicolas Raskin, Kieran Dowell, and Jose Cifuentes. Other fringe players are believed to earn less than £10K per week.
High Earners with Low Game Minutes for Rangers
| Players Name | Rumoured Weekly Wages |
| Sam Lammers | £30,000 |
| Ben Davies | £27,000 |
| Danillo | £26,000 |
| Rabbi Matondo | £23,000 |
| Tom Lawrence | £22,000 |
| Ianis Hagi | £21,000 |
| Nicolas Raskin | £19,000 |
| Kieran Dowell | £16,000 |
| Jose Cifuentes | £16,000 |
| £200,000 |
High Earners Potentially at End of Rangers Cycle
Additionally, there are senior players who did play but might be nearing the end of their cycle at Rangers, such as Connor Goldson, James Tavernier, Cyriel Dessers, and Todd Cantwell (£22K).
| Players Name | Rumoured Weekly Wages |
| Connor Goldson | £37,000 |
| James Tavernier | £30,000 |
| Cyriel Dessers | £27,000 |
| Todd Cantwell | £23,000 |
| £117,000 |
Transfer Manager Time! Who Would We Like to See Move On?
At Ibrox Insider, we believe that moving on players like Goldson, Davies, Cantwell, Lammers, Hagi, and Dowell could significantly reduce the wage bill and revitalise our transfer market activities. While it might be an unpopular opinion, we feel retaining Tavernier and Dessers is crucial at this stage. Cantwell is undoubtedly a great player, but his off-field antics and seemingly tense relationship with the manager are distractions we don’t need.
| Players Name | Rumoured Weekly Wages |
| Connor Goldson | £37,000 |
| Ben Davies | £27,000 |
| Todd Cantwell | £23,000 |
| Ianis Hagi | £21,000 |
| Kieran Dowell | £16,000 |
| £124,000 |
While it’s unlikely that Rangers would be able to move all these players on in the current transfer window it would save Rangers a massive £124,000 a week or £6,448,000 a year!
Over to You! Who Would You Keep and Who Would You Move On?
Now, it’s over to you, fellow fans. Who would you like to see moved on from the squad? Share your thoughts and let’s discuss how we can best support our team in the upcoming season.