Ally McCoist Slams Thelwell’s Top January Target for Rangers, Urges Bold Striker Hunt

Ally McCoist Slams Thelwell’s Top January Target for Rangers, Urges Bold Striker Hunt

In the wake of Rangers’ dismal Europa League defeat to Roma, club legend Ally McCoist unleashed a blistering critique of sporting director Kevin Thelwell’s recruitment strategy. Speaking live on TNT Sports, the Ibrox icon didn’t mince words, labeling Thelwell’s summer signings as “appalling” and the squad “unrecognisable” from its glory days.

Central to McCoist’s fury is Thelwell’s £8million splash on Youssef Chermiti from Everton—a player the pundit deems a catastrophic January misfire waiting to happen. “Chermiti’s wasteful, especially that glaring header against Brann,” McCoist fumed, echoing fans’ airport confrontations with the beleaguered director. With Rangers languishing under new boss Danny Rohl, McCoist warned it could take three transfer windows to salvage the mess, slamming Thelwell’s “bizarre” nepotism in appointing son Robbie as head of recruitment.

Yet, ever the optimist, McCoist pivoted to solutions, insisting January demands a prolific striker to ignite the attack. “We need goals, experience, leaders—not more gambles,” he declared. Top of his wishlist: Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, the “very, very clever” Brazilian whose intelligent movement and clinical finishing could transform Ibrox. At 28, Jesus’s versatility—poaching like McCoist in his prime—makes him a dream fit, especially amid Arsenal’s depth.

McCoist named two more Premier League gems to outshine Chermiti: Chelsea’s Armando Broja, a raw powerhouse with explosive pace and aerial dominance, ready for a loan revival; and West Ham’s Michail Antonio, the battle-hardened Jamaican whose physicality and hold-up play would bully Scottish defenses. “Antonio’s proven he scores in big games—perfect for our title push,” McCoist enthused. These targets, he argues, offer immediate impact over Thelwell’s flops, urging chairman Andrew Cavenagh to back Rohl decisively.

As Rangers eye Champions League redemption, McCoist’s clarion call echoes: Fix the forward line, or face more heartbreak. The clock’s ticking.(l