If Rangers fans were in charge of the finances we’d probably have spent an awful lot more money this summer; a successful Europa League campaign, record player sales, record revenue and merchandise and compensation for a departed manager all add up to a healthy bank balance burning a hole in our pockets.
With Calvin Bassey set to go for over £20million in the short-term and potentially over £25m in the long-term, there will now be pressure on the board to release money for Ross Wilson and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. We’ve made some quality additions this summer but are still in a net profit with Joe Aribo going to Southampton.
The flip side is, there is no point spending money for the sake of it.
Do we need to spend £5-6m on a left-back or centre-half? We would like to but we don’t need to.
As predicted by Vital Rangers, we could well see more of James Sands playing the position that he played at New York City alongside Connor Goldson at centre-half rather than in midfield where we have seen him more often since he signed in January.
Interestingly, against Blackpool, Sands was frequently seen pushing out wide to allow Borna Barisic to take up a more offensive position, leading us to set up with a back three in possession. Van Bronckhorst likes fluidity to his team’s shape and Sands confidence on the ball gives him that.
Then there is John Souttar, not a player who will play 60 games but he’s more than capable of playing 40 and playing them well, there are absolutely no worries about his ability at any level.
Just because we finally have money to spend, it doesn’t mean we have to spend it all at once, especially when Riechedly Bazoer is available on a free transfer.