Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso needs to leave Ibrox this summer.
Rangers’ attack may have been firing on all cylinders against Hamilton Academical on Sunday, but their defence was found wanting in the 5-3 win at New Douglas Park.
The Gers were exceptional going forward as Jamie Murphy, Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos ran riot, but manager Graeme Murty will be far from impressed with the defensive showing.
Slack work at the back saw Darren Lyon, David Templeton and Dougie Imrie score for the Accies, and whilst Rangers have cut the gap to leaders Celtic to nine points, their defence may keep them from truly challenging for the title.
Murty has remained loyal to the combination of veteran January signing Russell Martin and youngster David Bates in the heart of his defence, with youngster Ross McCrorie also knocking on the door.
Murty’s commitment to using British players – as seen with the January additions of Martin, Greg Docherty, Sean Goss, Jamie Murphy and Jason Cummings – means that one player should already be looking for a summer exit; Fabio Cardoso.
The Portuguese centre back was a key signing for former manager Pedro Caixinha last summer, with Rangers paying £1.3million to land him from Vitoria Setubal, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
Cardoso was expected to be a major addition to the Rangers back line, but he has played just 44 minutes of first-team action since Caixinha’s sacking, summing up just how far down Murty’s pecking order he really is right now.
Given that Cardoso still has real potential at the age of just 23, the centre back must already be looking to the summer transfer window to plan his Rangers escape route, potentially heading back to Portugal to play first-team football rather than continue to sit on the sidelines under Murty.
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