Rabiu AminuDanny Rohl names the Rangers transfer mistake that won’t be made again after Barry Ferguson warning
The moves in the market last summer have left the Light Blues struggling to compete at the Premiership summitDanny Rohl insists he’ll make sure Rangers no longer turn a blind eye to the local talent sitting right under their nose.
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The Gers boss has vowed to take a close look at the domestic market after a succession of his predecessors were accused of ignoring Scottish transfer targets. Former Light Blues caretaker boss Barry Ferguson has previously detailed his plans to sign up some of the Premiership’s homegrown players.
Ferguson had hoped to sign Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland on a free transfer last summer – as well as then Jambos team-mate James Penrice and Dundee ace Josh Mulligan. But all three deals fell through when Gers’ new American owners decided to appoint Russell Martin as gaffer instead of the ex-club captain.
It’s a decision that has already backfired on the Light Blues twice this season, with Shankland netting in both of the Jambos home and away wins over the Ibrox men. But now Rohl insists he won’t make the same mistake as he vowed to keep tabs on the local talent.
He said: “I think we should not close our eyes to the Scottish market. I think we have players that have the experience here in this league. They know what it means to play against other teams. They know what it means also to play for Rangers or against Rangers.
“And, yeah, I’m totally open. For me, it’s not about the market, it’s really about in which position the players can help us.”
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Rohl is looking to stiffen the spine of his sagging line-up and will prioritise a centre-back, central midfielder and centre-forward – plus a left-back – in next month’s transfer window.
But he insists the club’s current strikers can still have a huge part to play.
Bojan Miovski was denied a third goal in three games by a marginal offside call last week at Tynecastle while £8million signing Youssef Chermiti grabbed just his second goal in a blue shirt in the 2-1 defeat to Hearts.
Rohl, who also has Brazilian Danilo as a frontline option, said: “Yeah, I think in general, this is what’s the message to the players, especially then to the centre forwards, that I’m looking for this No9 who is always the starter.
“There’s the challenge. And at the moment, there are three players are trying to be the No9.“
In the following weeks, we will see who is the No9. Of course, we know that we score generally not enough.
“I think it’s not just the centre forwards, it’s also when we look to the 10s or the winger position, that we need more goals in this part of the game and this is what we have to improve.”
Rohl knows his team will have to be bang at it if they are to respond to the first league loss of his Ibrox reign.
Next up are Jens Berthel Askou’s high-flying Motherwell, who come to Ibrox a point better off than Gers in third, albeit having played a game more.
“Yeah, I think they are doing well,” said the Ibrox boss. “They play a lot of 4-2-4 with a box in the middle. They have a lot of ball possession in the league, I think about over 60 per cent and they have direction.
“But I’m convinced that when we bring our intensity on the pitch, our structure, with the ball against the ball, that we can hurt them.“
They give us all those spaces where we can attack them. I’m really looking forward to this game because I think both teams will try to play in a direction of their own. I don’t think it’s a team that just wants to destroy the game.
“They want to play football, they want to press, and this is, for me, a good basic to have an attractive game.”
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