Alex Rae thinks Rangers could lose Glen Kamara this summer - but backs Steven Gerrard to replace him.
By James Cairney @JamesCairneyHT
Alex Rae fears Rangers could lose Glen Kamara this summer - but backs Steven Gerrard to replace him
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THIS summer will be a momentous one for both halves of the Old Firm divide. Over in the east end of the city, Celtic will be undergoing a major rebuild as key players move on, Neil Lennon’s successor is appointed and a new management structure is implemented at Parkhead but in Govan, Steven Gerrard will be facing novel issues of his own.
Since taking the reins at Ibrox three years ago, the Liverpool legend has never been in a position where he has been forced into selling one of his prized assets. Until now, no player has left Rangers that Gerrard didn’t want shot of but there is an expectation this summer that one or more of Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara and Borna Barisic – key players during Gerrard’s tenure – could be moved on for healthy profits during the transfer window.
It’s a new challenge for Gerrard but it is one that former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae is convinced he will meet head on. With the likes of Steven Davis and Allan McGregor tied down on longer deals, Rae reckons the planning for next season has already started in earnest – adding that whatever the incomings and outgoings at Ibrox this summer, he believes his old club have the right people in place to adequately replace any significant departures.
He explained: “If you go back to 2015, the board at the time said they would have to invest over a period of time to get a level of player at Rangers that everyone would be familiar with – to get back to the old standards. And they’ve done that in abundance this year.
“I think it’s fair to say that players will start coming and going as Rangers become more of a trading club. I think that’s testament to the management team because they’ve managed to build a squad of players that have got value now. If you go back a few years, there wasn’t a great deal of value there.
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“They’ve got players going to the Euros this year and it will be fascinating to see who they trade or if they do sell anyone, because there will come a point where they’ll have to accept bids because players are coming to at the end of their contracts. They’ve been quite fortunate that they’ve managed to secure a few players already this year – like Davis and McGregor – so it will be interesting to see how [Borna] Barisic does, or [Glen] Kamara.
“The thing is you’ve also got guys like [Alfredo] Morelos where they knocked back a lot of bids last year, so I’m sure there will be comings and goings. But the one thing where I have a lot more faith in Rangers is that they have a really good scouting network.
“They have a director of football, they’ve got a clear identity and they know exactly what they want to go and target. So I have faith, regardless of who comes and who goes, that they’ll get it right because Steven’s work in the transfer windows has been tremendous.”
Rae’s claim is difficult to dispute, given the vast margin by which Rangers won the league. Not only did they deny Celtic their hallowed tenth consecutive league title, they did so with 25 points separating the two rivals and without a single Premiership defeat to their name.
Rae sees this as vindication of not only Gerrard’s ability as a manager but as the approach taken by the club’s scouting department, too. Recruitment, he insists, has been key to Rangers’ improvement in recent years – and has gone a long way to restoring the club to its past glory.
“I have to be honest – over the years, I think we lost our identity a wee bit,” he admitted. “We had all these charlatans in the building and there was no real planning.
“What I see now is a club that is well-run. A big part of that is how you manage your finances; will you sell a player, who are you going to bring in?
“I’ll give you an example – the six central midfielders that Rangers had on their books last year, how much did they cost to acquire? Three hundred and fifty grand. That’s it. If you can get guys of that quality in at such a low price then you’re on to a winner.
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“That’s how they’re going to have to go. I also think that down in England where you can get guys for development fees … another Joe Aribo. You look at his value – it’s been great.
“I just like the way they go about it; there’s a bit of thought about it. There’s a method about what they’re trying to do and when you’ve got a management team who know how to prepare a team, a playing squad that are absolutely buzzing – it’s an unbelievable achievement.
“To go through a season unbeaten is ridiculous. I’ve only seen it three times: Arsenal did it when I was playing; Celtic did it a few years ago; and now Rangers have done it. It’s very infrequent that you go through a whole season without losing.”
With the European Championships looming, Rae is all too aware of the fact that scouts from all over the continent will be scouring the tournament for players to recommend. He accepts that Rangers’ business strategy means that important players will have to be sold every now and then but there is one in particular he expects to be in demand this summer: Finland internationalist Kamara.
“I think Kamara will stand out,” he added. “Borna Barisic has done well and it will be interesting as we play against Croatia. But I really like Kamara – technically, he’s fantastic. And when you think he only cost 50 grand – it was an absolute snip.
“I was at Dundee before him but I’ve watched him from afar. I watch him in Europe where you’ve got to keep a hold of the ball and he can keep a hold of a ball in a phone box!”
Rae was speaking at the reopening of Oswald’s, the Rangers-themed bar located in Glasgow city centre, as he urged supporters to have a gander for themselves now that pubs can sell alcohol indoors after lockdown restrictions were eased.
READ MORE: Rangers legend Brian Laudrup on the one Ibrox player Steven Gerrard must keep
“I’ve been in here since lockdown and a whole bunch of my mates are always looking for a table upstairs,” he said. “It’s a brilliant Rangers bar.
“We don’t know where we’re going to be in terms of numbers [of fans allowed in stadia next year] but one thing I do know is you always get a good Rangers following in here. It’s a very partisan place but listen, it’s great. It’s a good atmosphere.”
By James Cairney @JamesCairneyHT
Alex Rae fears Rangers could lose Glen Kamara this summer - but backs Steven Gerrard to replace him
0 comment
THIS summer will be a momentous one for both halves of the Old Firm divide. Over in the east end of the city, Celtic will be undergoing a major rebuild as key players move on, Neil Lennon’s successor is appointed and a new management structure is implemented at Parkhead but in Govan, Steven Gerrard will be facing novel issues of his own.
Since taking the reins at Ibrox three years ago, the Liverpool legend has never been in a position where he has been forced into selling one of his prized assets. Until now, no player has left Rangers that Gerrard didn’t want shot of but there is an expectation this summer that one or more of Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara and Borna Barisic – key players during Gerrard’s tenure – could be moved on for healthy profits during the transfer window.
It’s a new challenge for Gerrard but it is one that former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae is convinced he will meet head on. With the likes of Steven Davis and Allan McGregor tied down on longer deals, Rae reckons the planning for next season has already started in earnest – adding that whatever the incomings and outgoings at Ibrox this summer, he believes his old club have the right people in place to adequately replace any significant departures.
He explained: “If you go back to 2015, the board at the time said they would have to invest over a period of time to get a level of player at Rangers that everyone would be familiar with – to get back to the old standards. And they’ve done that in abundance this year.
“I think it’s fair to say that players will start coming and going as Rangers become more of a trading club. I think that’s testament to the management team because they’ve managed to build a squad of players that have got value now. If you go back a few years, there wasn’t a great deal of value there.
READ MORE: Rangers new boy Fashion Sakala's top traits and potential ability revealed by Oostende recruitment chief
“They’ve got players going to the Euros this year and it will be fascinating to see who they trade or if they do sell anyone, because there will come a point where they’ll have to accept bids because players are coming to at the end of their contracts. They’ve been quite fortunate that they’ve managed to secure a few players already this year – like Davis and McGregor – so it will be interesting to see how [Borna] Barisic does, or [Glen] Kamara.
“The thing is you’ve also got guys like [Alfredo] Morelos where they knocked back a lot of bids last year, so I’m sure there will be comings and goings. But the one thing where I have a lot more faith in Rangers is that they have a really good scouting network.
“They have a director of football, they’ve got a clear identity and they know exactly what they want to go and target. So I have faith, regardless of who comes and who goes, that they’ll get it right because Steven’s work in the transfer windows has been tremendous.”
Rae’s claim is difficult to dispute, given the vast margin by which Rangers won the league. Not only did they deny Celtic their hallowed tenth consecutive league title, they did so with 25 points separating the two rivals and without a single Premiership defeat to their name.
Rae sees this as vindication of not only Gerrard’s ability as a manager but as the approach taken by the club’s scouting department, too. Recruitment, he insists, has been key to Rangers’ improvement in recent years – and has gone a long way to restoring the club to its past glory.
“I have to be honest – over the years, I think we lost our identity a wee bit,” he admitted. “We had all these charlatans in the building and there was no real planning.
“What I see now is a club that is well-run. A big part of that is how you manage your finances; will you sell a player, who are you going to bring in?
“I’ll give you an example – the six central midfielders that Rangers had on their books last year, how much did they cost to acquire? Three hundred and fifty grand. That’s it. If you can get guys of that quality in at such a low price then you’re on to a winner.
READ MORE: Stuart McCall points to Jude Bellingham factor as he tips Rangers star Nathan Patterson to push for Scotland start
“That’s how they’re going to have to go. I also think that down in England where you can get guys for development fees … another Joe Aribo. You look at his value – it’s been great.
“I just like the way they go about it; there’s a bit of thought about it. There’s a method about what they’re trying to do and when you’ve got a management team who know how to prepare a team, a playing squad that are absolutely buzzing – it’s an unbelievable achievement.
“To go through a season unbeaten is ridiculous. I’ve only seen it three times: Arsenal did it when I was playing; Celtic did it a few years ago; and now Rangers have done it. It’s very infrequent that you go through a whole season without losing.”
With the European Championships looming, Rae is all too aware of the fact that scouts from all over the continent will be scouring the tournament for players to recommend. He accepts that Rangers’ business strategy means that important players will have to be sold every now and then but there is one in particular he expects to be in demand this summer: Finland internationalist Kamara.
“I think Kamara will stand out,” he added. “Borna Barisic has done well and it will be interesting as we play against Croatia. But I really like Kamara – technically, he’s fantastic. And when you think he only cost 50 grand – it was an absolute snip.
“I was at Dundee before him but I’ve watched him from afar. I watch him in Europe where you’ve got to keep a hold of the ball and he can keep a hold of a ball in a phone box!”
Rae was speaking at the reopening of Oswald’s, the Rangers-themed bar located in Glasgow city centre, as he urged supporters to have a gander for themselves now that pubs can sell alcohol indoors after lockdown restrictions were eased.
READ MORE: Rangers legend Brian Laudrup on the one Ibrox player Steven Gerrard must keep
“I’ve been in here since lockdown and a whole bunch of my mates are always looking for a table upstairs,” he said. “It’s a brilliant Rangers bar.
“We don’t know where we’re going to be in terms of numbers [of fans allowed in stadia next year] but one thing I do know is you always get a good Rangers following in here. It’s a very partisan place but listen, it’s great. It’s a good atmosphere.”
