Murphy has been sidelined for the entire season, after suffering a knee injury during Rangers’ win over Kilmarnock.
Steven Gerrard still needs to address a couple of areas of his Rangers squad that remain particularly light with just over a week remaining in the transfer window – and the signing of a free agent could breathe relief at Ibrox.
Just Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic remain as options at centre-back, with the Gers reportedly eyeing Nottingham Forest star Joe Worrall as an option after missing out on Curtis Tilt, Jack Simpson, Kean Bryan and Jake Cooper.
But it is not just at centre-back where the Gers need to strengthen, after the Light Blues confirmed the signing of Kyle Lafferty to provide Rangers with three strikers for the 2018-19 campaign.
The injury to Jamie Murphy, which sees the Scotland international sidelined for the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign, has left the Gers light out wide. Only Daniel Candeias, Ryan Kent and Glenn Middleton are natural wingers.
Indeed, Gerrard must look to bring in another wide man to add cover and quality from the flanks, and his first port of call should be free agent Bakary Sako after the 30-year-old left Crystal Palace this summer.
The former Wolves man could not agree a new contract at Selhurst Park and is now on the lookout for a new home, and Gerrard would be foolish not to consider a move for the goalscoring winger.
Sako is renowned for his goalscoring antics from out wide, which has seen him find the back of the net 24 times in 78 Championship games during his time at Wolves.
With the Gers completing the signings of 12 players, funds for more transfers are likely to be light and a freebie could be a real possibility for Gerrard. Wing wizard Sako, then, provides Rangers with an ideal opportunity.
Rangers should do all they can to land Sako, as he would provide more than adequate quality as Murphy’s replacement but he would also keep the Gers finances intact.
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