Rangers could sign a third centre-back this summer with former Birmingham City prospect Emmanuel Mbende – but what does this mean for Danny Wilson?
Ruthless Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has not been afraid to swing the axe this summer. Eight fresh faces have already arrived at Ibrox in a huge summer overhaul while plenty are facing uncertain futures as result.
Andy Halliday has already gone and Michael O’Halloran, Barrie McKay, Rob Kiernan and Harry Forrester are all expected to follow him out the exit door. Yet, according to the Daily Record, it appears that centre-half Danny Wilson did enough in the final two months of the season to convince Caixinha that he is worth keeping around.
Getting his career back on track after an ill-judged move to Liverpool, the former Hearts prospect was a regular starter at the heart of Rangers’ backline once Caixinha replaced Mark Warburton in March.
Danny Wilson started 19 league games for Rangers last season
Yet, while he may not be forced out of Ibrox like his central defensive partner Kiernan, who the Daily Record claims will be available on a free, another intriguing transfer link will have Wilson feeling the heat.
The Cameroon Under-20 international spent six years in Borussia Dortmund’s youth system as well as a season at Birmingham City in 2015/16.
However, despite being offered a contract extension at St Andrews, with then manager Gary Rowett tipping him to challenge for the first-team, Mbende instead rejected the deal and returned to Germany, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
Former Birmingham manager Gary Rowett rated Mbende highly
Yet, a second chance in Britain could be on the cards for a defender who hasn’t yet built upon that initial early promise. Nonetheless, that opportunity could come at Rangers with Caixinha showing a willingness to throw young, unproven talents in the deepest of waters.
And this would make Mbende the third new centre-half at Rangers this summer following the arrival of Fabio Cardoso and long-serving Portuguese international Bruno Alves. If he settles early, what are the chances of Wilson dropping down to fourth in the pecking order?
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