Rangers missed out on Motherwell’s Ben Heneghan so they should ensure David Bates remains integral to the first team.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha spoke of a desire to add more domestic based players to his squad before the transfer window opened this summer. However, when September 1st rolled around, it became apparent that only two of the club’s new signings, Ryan Jack and Graham Dorrans, had any prior experience in Scotland’s top flight.
Nonetheless, the arrival of Motherwell centre-back Ben Heneghan would surely have been welcomed at Ibrox. The 23-year-old only arrived at Fir Park from non-league Chester City in the summer of 2016 but earned rave reviews for an excellent debut campaign north of the border.
However, after making it clear that he was not going to extend his two-year deal, it became clear that Heneghan would leave after just one year with Motherwell. Rangers were first credited with an interest in May and The Chronicle reports that the Ibrox giants were still keen just a few days before the transfer deadline.
In the end, however, Heneghan moved to Championship side Sheffield United instead – leaving Rangers’ with little room to manoeuvre at the back.
A role to play?
Portuguese pairing Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso look like fine additions but Danny Wilson and David Bates are the only other options at Caixinha’s disposal.
Therefore, you wonder whether Rangers will hand Bates an important back-up role this season. The 20-year-old impressed when given an opportunity in the first team by Caixinha in the second half of last season but new arrivals have pushed him down the pecking order.
Consequently, the Daily Record reported that Rangers were considering loaning him out on deadline day, which would give the former Raith Rovers’ prospect a better chance at regular first-team football.
No temporary exit materialised, however, meaning Bates is likely to remain at Rangers until January, which is potentially good news with only three other defenders at their disposal, one of which being a card-happy 35-year-old.
Bates would surely have benefitted from an experience-enhancing short-term exit but he may just be needed at Ibrox as an able and willing deputy.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
