During the January transfer window, the focus is often put on who could be arriving at Ibrox. The exciting unknown that surrounds incoming players is hard to deny, but often just as important is trimming the first-team to ensure it does not become bloated.
Rangers have signed a huge number of players over the last couple of years as managers have come and gone, projects have failed and restarted. Steven Gerrard was backed heavily too and signed half a squad’s worth of players during the last transfer window.
With Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe already arriving this month and pre-contracts handed out to Scottish Premiership duo Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara, competition is as fierce as ever in the Gers’ first-team.
So who could benefit and who should be on the verge of an Ibrox exit this month?
One of the first names that comes to my mind is Lee Wallace, who has less than six months left on his current deal at the club and has failed to win a place in Gerrard’s first-team, despite putting injury issues behind him. He’s made just four substitute appearances this season and at 31 years of age will want to make the most of what’s left of his career.
Gerrard made it clear in a recent press conference that Borna Barisic would be his preferred left-back going forward, so will Wallace look to move elsewhere?
An exit that is perhaps more wishful thinking than likely is Carlos Pena‘s. The midfield wage drain has been a disastrous signing since joining in the early days of the Pedro Caixinha reign and has already had two failed loan moves in his homeland. Those recent problems might put off any potential clubs that would look at his fairly decent playing history.
Still, it should be a priority of the club to send him on his way this month. We’ve already ensured Eduardo Herrera won’t be returning any time soon and it’s Pena’s turn to be shed from the weekly wage bill.
One player who could massively benefit from a loan move, with a view to having a Rangers future, is Jordan Rossiter. The 21-year-old midfielder seems to have put the majority of his injury problems behind him this season but has still only made five appearances. With Steven Davis arriving and Kamara on the way from Dundee, he’s falling further and further down the pecking order.
A six month loan could be the making of him as he enters the last 18 months of his contract at Ibrox.