Rangers will need to add to the forward line this summer, that much was clear at the end of a season where we finished with a midfielder leading the line and that was before we sold Cedric Itten to Young Boys.
So far we’ve seen a few names mentioned; Mateo Cassierra, Erik Botheim and Cameron Archer being the most notable with the latter an intriguing story given our connections to his parent club Aston Villa.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Rangers relationship with Steven Gerrard could be a deciding factor when it comes to persuading Villa where Archer should spend next season:
“It would definitely give them maybe increased hope that they could agree a deal between both clubs.
“There will be a relationship obviously between Gerrard and Rangers, so maybe he might be more inclined to send Cameron Archer up to Ibrox if it does come down to that, knowing what Rangers can offer the striker as well.”
Gerrard would know that Archer wouldn’t be first choice, however, he would still get plenty of game time, get used to playing in front of a big and demanding crowd, face different types of defence and have to handle himself physically, he would also have Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos to learn off and Roy Makaay as a mentor.
My personal preference would be to sign a striker on a permanent deal so that they have a season to bed in and rotate so that when they are tasked with being number one, they can hit the ground running but, I understand the thinking behind signing a promising loanee who is on an upward career trajectory – Archer did well on loan at Preston in the second half of last season but, with all due respect, Preston isn’t Rangers.