Rangers brought Jordan Rossiter to Ibrox on this day in 2016.
Jordan Rossiter (R) in action with Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen
On March 13th 2016, Rangers confirmed on their official website that midfielder Jordan Rossiter had joined the club from Liverpool, in what was viewed as a major coup for the Gers.
Rossiter, 20, had progressed through the ranks at Anfield having joined the Reds in 2003, making a total of five first-team appearances for the club before moving on to Rangers.
The midfielder was valued by Liverpool at £8million when his contract came to an end, as reported by the Daily Record, but Rangers managed to land him for just £250,000 due to cross-border compensation rules, with fans excited about such a bargain.
Then-manager Mark Warburton told the Rangers official website that he felt Rossiter was an ‘excellent addition’ to his squad, having also played regularly for the England Under-19’s.
However, Rossiter’s first season at Ibrox has proven to be a nightmare. Rossiter has made just six appearances for Rangers this season, and hasn’t been seen in a Gers shirt since the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock on August 26th.
Jordan Rossiter in action against Bordeaux’s Nicolas Maurice Belay
Injury woes have been a major issue for Rossiter this season, and former manager Warburton’s repeated comments that the midfielder wasn’t far away from full fitness became a running joke for Rangers fans.
Now, with the end of the season and pre-season training drawing ever closer, new manager Pedro Caixinha doesn’t really know what he has in Rossiter. Whilst he has assessed the majority of the Rangers squad over the last two months, Rossiter presents something of a question mark.
An undoubtedly talented midfielder when fit, possessing determination as well as quality on the ball, Rossiter could be vital to the Rangers midfield next season and beyond, especially given that loanees Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman have already returned to Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively.
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jordan Rossiter
Yet, with no playing time in almost nine months, Rossiter’s future is far from guaranteed with Rangers, and it’s hard for Caixinha to plan for the midfielder to be a key part of his side having not seen him in first-team action.
Rangers may not sell Rossiter this summer, but the buzz over his signature has certainly died down since his arrival – and should Caixinha bring midfielders to the club this summer, Rossiter may end up as a squad player when fit, rather than the major coup he was viewed as a year ago today.
What do you think the future holds for Rossiter at Ibrox?
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