Former Ibrox ace Kris Boyd believes Rangers could do a lot worse than do try and bring John Fleck back to Glasgow from Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United, speaking to Sky Sports.
Mick Beale is in no mood to paper over the cracks. Yes, Rangers are unbeaten under their new head coach. Yes, they have won four games and drawn just one.
But Beale, particularly after December’s 3-0 victory over Motherwell, has pulled no punches, demanding substantial improvements from a side who tend to start games a lot slower than the former QPR boss would ideally like.
Monday’s 2-2 draw against Celtic was a familiar story; Rangers struggling to control possession in the opening half an hour, giving the ball away cheaply and lacking any sort of real authority in the centre of the park.
And, when you factor in the uncertainty surrounding loanees James Sands and Malik Tillman, the out-of-contract Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield, plus the exit-linked Glen Kamara, it’s no real surprise that Beale has identified the midfield as an area in need of reinforcement.
“I think midfield is an area we’d look to strengthen going forward,” Beale said in December.
Would Rangers really consider re-signing Sheffield United’s John Fleck?
And Boyd believes that a Glasgow-born Scotland international who began his career at Ibrox all the way back in 2007 would represent a potentially inspired addition to a midfield crying out for some poise and finesse.
“The obvious one for me would be John Fleck,” Boyd argues. “Michael Beale has spoken about that central midfield area. John Fleck has been at Rangers before. He has been brought up in it.
“He is a totally different player now from the one that left Rangers. People like him would be on my radar.”
Fleck, like Davis, Jack and Arfield, will be a free-agent in July. He is, however, the wrong side of 30, while injuries have also restricted him to just 12 Championship appearances for Sheffield United this term.
“I wouldn’t be rushing in and just grabbing players for the sake of it,” Boyd adds. “Especially in January. A lot of the time players haven’t been playing for their football clubs.
“It is important Rangers do their recruitment properly because this window and the next one are huge. Deals need to be done. If deals are to be done in January, I am sure Beale will want to get them done.
“I think the summer is the most important window because there is an overhaul of the squad needed.”
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