Rangers have used, at least, six players on the right-hand side of our attack this season, if that doesn’t tell you its own story, then I’m not sure what will.
It had been hoped that the arrival of Rabbi Matondo would see a consistent selection in attack, however, the Wales international just hasn’t been able to get a consistent run of games for one reason or another, fortunately, he has plenty of time on his hands and shouldn’t be written off just yet, especially when his best position is on the left.
Ross Wilson had to spend a couple of million to get Matondo and it could yet be money well spent, however, there remains one genuine quality option available on a pre-contract agreement and is soon to be available for free. He also knows what it takes to beat Celtic at Parkhead.
Ola Solbakken was linked with a cut-price move in the summer but it then looked as though he was heading to Serie A, speculation has returned recently but nothing has been formally announced. His Bodo/Glimt contract is set to expire in January though and our sporting director should be making every attempt to get a deal done.
With 11 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances, Solbakken produces the sort of numbers that we need from our wingers and forwards. At 6ft 1inch tall he would also add an extra option at set-pieces at either end of the park and can more than handle himself physically.
His wages would be as expected for a player of his quality but, they wouldn’t even be in line with our top earners, as we’ve seen in the Champions League though, pace, power and quality on the ball are imperative and Solbakken ticks a lot of these boxes. We would also be saving millions in terms of a transfer fee. It would soften the blow of losing Ryan Kent for nothing if he goes and would also allow us to cash in on Fashion Sakala who is still unfenced by the manager.
There’s not often that a transfer fee would be so warmly and instantly accepted, it would also be one that would get a lot of people off Ross Wilson’s back, for a few hours at least.
I said that last season and instead we have wasted £2 million on Matondo who looks hopeless to me. If we could get rid of him , Sakala and Wright it would more than pay this guys wages and get in another wide man who will actually contribute something.