Rangers can finally replace Goldson by signing “class” star

Rangers‘ depressing away kind continues.

On Thursday, the Mild Blues have been held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Dens Park, conceding inside six minutes, earlier than Václav Černý smuggled house an equaliser on the half-hour mark however, regardless of having 77% possession, they may not discover that all-important second, truly ending the night time with a lower xG than the Dee: 1.01 to 0.73.

Because of this, Philippe Clement‘s group at the moment are a humongous 15 factors adrift Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic, winless in 4 away matches. This is not a brand new development, contemplating the Gers have gained simply three of 11 away league video games this season, scoring a miserly 13 objectives in these fixtures, three of which got here at Easter Highway on Sunday – they usually nonetheless did not beat Hibs in Edinburgh.

With essential Europa League fixtures in opposition to Manchester United and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise proper across the nook, supporters are calling for signings, with stress mounting on each Clement and newly-appointed Chief govt officer Patrick Stewart.

Rangers looking for defensive reinforcements

In accordance with a report by the Daily Record, defender Ryan Porteous – who was linked with the Gers back in 2023 – is “sad” at Watford, whereas the Hibs Observer added that Hull City are additionally concerned with his providers.

Craig Moore, who made 187 appearances for Rangers throughout two spells, has tipped his former membership to pounce on the state of affairs, having advised the Go Radio Football Show earlier this week that Porteous “shall be one of some choices I’m fairly positive Rangers shall be taking a look at”, including he’s “definitely one to think about”.

The defender joined Hibernian as a 13-year-old, making 157 appearances for the Hibees’ first group, earlier than being offered to Watford for a reported £500,000 in January 2023.

Throughout his time at Vicarage Highway, Porteous has been lauded by supervisor Tom Cleverley as one of many membership’s “real class leaders in the dressing room“, though he has endured a sticky time of it of late.

Now 25 years outdated, he has played 80 times for the Hornets, albeit he was left on the bench for his or her most up-to-date EFL Championship fixture in opposition to Sheffield United, having been hooked at half-time at Cardiff per week earlier.

In the meantime, he’s not featured for Scotland since being despatched off in the course of the Euro 2024 opener in opposition to Germany, a match Scotland have been humiliatingly hammered 5-1, so Porteous may push for a transfer as he seeks common recreation time at membership stage to drive his means again into Steve Clarke’s plans.

This potential transfer to Glasgow might be controversial, contemplating Porteous is not significantly well-liked with the Rangers assist.

After Hibs beat the Gers 3-1 within the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden in November 2021, the defender mischievously stated “do we glance pleased? Do not ask foolish questions then”, parodying an interview given by then Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, additionally to reporter Emma Dodds, a month earlier, mere days earlier than he jumped ship for Aston Villa.

However, this may all be water underneath the bridge if he arrived and helped flip Rangers’ kind round.

How Ryan Porteous would enhance Rangers

Proper now, Rangers are confronted with a defensive damage disaster.

Captain James Tavernier, Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, Leon Balogun and Neraysho Kasanwirjo all sat out the mid-week journey to Dens Park, that means 20-year-old Clinton Nsiala was handed his senior debut, with writer Michael McEwan on Twitter, barely tongue in cheek, evaluating him to “prime Franco Baresi”.

The previous AC Milan starlet was definitely strong, if not unspectacular, on his first-team bow, making six clearances and producing four blocks, with there maybe hope that he can nail down a beginning berth shifting ahead. That stated, the Mild Blues want prompt options, not simply long-term potential.

Certainly, Rangers are but to correctly substitute Connor Goldson, who unceremoniously departed last summer for Aris Limassol, having made 309 appearances for the Ibrox aspect.

So let’s examine how Porteous and Goldson examine?

As outlined within the desk, Porteous is far more of an all-action defender than Goldson, whose numbers throughout his closing two seasons at Rangers are literally not that excellent.

On the flip aspect, Porteous’ statistics are spectacular, that means he appears to be like to be simply what the Gers are in search of, so, if he does change into accessible this month, the Glasgow-based aspect ought to be throughout that.

A ‘chief’ – as Cleverley hinted at – the wantaway Watford man may fill the footwear of Goldson greater than adequately, ought to speak surrounding a transfer to Ibrox change into extra concrete.

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