Philippe Clement will be implementing a “huge overhaul” of the Rangers squad in the summer with as many as 15 players on the way out at Ibrox, says Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in his column for the Scottish Sun (19 April) that the Belgian’s defence of his side after the disappointing 0-0 draw at Dundee in midweek [Rangers Review, 17 April] would have been because it was pointless to criticise players who weren’t good enough to do any better, but is under no illusions that a lot will be leaving.
But with Celtic’s finances stronger and the potential for another title to boost them further the former Light Blues striker admits it is a “huge worry” that the Hoops can spend big while Clement is going to have to be “wheeling and dealing” to improve his squad.
Boyd wrote: “Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, there is a huge clear-out coming in the summer. The problem Rangers have is there aren’t too many sellable assets there to bring in big fees.
“And that means there will have to be more wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, which brings no guarantees. That’s a huge worry because Celtic have the resources to spend big.
“But I reckon there could be something like 15 players shipped out of Ibrox. For many of them, it won’t be a moment too soon. This is a squad that cost two previous bosses their jobs.
“First, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was shown the door because of the group’s failings and then Michael Beale was sacked, too.
“But that won’t happen this time. Clement’s job is safe and he’s the one who will be seeing others off the premises.”
Rangers boss risks gap to Celtic growing this summer
It appeared for a long time like Clement had managed to transform the fortunes of a squad which had started the season dismally, but it looks now that with the help of some luck he was managing to squeeze something like the maximum out of them and it has now run out.
There certainly was a new manager bounce with the former Monaco boss when the likes of John Lundstram improved hugely and players such as Dujon Sterling emerged from the shadows to be excellent.
But the former has regressed again now and his future has to be in doubt, while the latter made public how unimpressed he was with the standard of his teammates with his unexpectedly honest comments this week [Rangers Review, 18 April].
Whatever happened this season under Clement there was going to be turnover once it ended thanks to him being the third-successive Rangers manager to arrive midseason and have little scope to bring in his own players until the following summer.
But depending on finances it could now be as extensive as prior to this season, but it will need to be much more successful from the get-go than Beale’s business was or next term could follow the same pattern once again.
The frustrating thing is that at times even these players have shown they can impress, they just never sustain it up to the point where it really matters.
And with significant money required just to stand still and keep the likes of Abdallah Sima or Oscar Cortes in Glasgow the risk that Brendan Rodgers will spend his way out of his own wobbles this season and re-establish himself properly at Parkhead is undeniably concerning.
In other Rangers news, one defender Clement “doesn’t rate” will definitely be moved on once the window opens says Chris Jack.
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The post 'Huge' – Sky Sports pundit claims Clement will boot 15 Rangers flops amid Celtic transfer worry appeared first on Ibrox News.
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