Charlie Nicholas would be ‘surprised’ if Rangers do not sign a goalkeeper in the final month of the transfer window to replace Allan McGregor, via his Scottish Daily Express column.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst opting against hiring a new shot-stopper so far this summer has perplexed the former Scotland star. Nicholas is resolute in his belief that McGregor’s days between the sticks at Ibrox are over, and those currently in Glasgow are not up to the job.
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Jon McLaughlin has started the 2022/23 season as the No.1 between the posts with three appearances from three games. But the 34-year-old has so far only taken one clean sheet against Kilmarnock, and Nicholas doubts the Edinburgh native rising to European football.
Rangers lost the first-leg of their Champions League third-round qualifying tie with Union SG 2-0. They will now host the Belgian Pro League side at Ibrox on Tuesday needing to win by three goals to set up a play-off date with the winner of PSV Eindhoven against Monaco.
Nicholas believes McLaughlin can establish his reputation in the UEFA tournament. But he sees Rangers signing a new goalkeeper as the more likely outcome by the end of the sales.
“It still brings me back to the point I made a few weeks ago, why are Rangers not going out to sign another goalkeeper?” Nicholas wrote. “We know Allan McGregor is no longer the answer and Robby McCrorie is clearly the No.3.
“McLaughlin is a good goalkeeper domestically, but is he a top keeper in Europe? That is where their reputations are made. I would still be surprised if they haven’t brought in another goalkeeper before the close of the window.”
Allan McGregor facing fight to remain No.1 at Rangers even without new signing
Allan McGregor is facing a fight to be the No.1 at Rangers this term, even without Giovanni van Bronckhorst adhering to Charlie Nicholas’ fears and signing a new goalkeeper who can rival the 40-year-old, Jon McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie to play between the Ibrox sticks.
Van Bronckhorst proved that McGregor was his favourite after replacing Steven Gerrard at the helm last November. He fielded the veteran shot-stopper, who returned to Glasgow in a free transfer from Hull City in 2018, in 34 matches in all competitions after taking charge.
McGregor also only failed to feature in one Europa League clash under Van Bronckhorst on way to winning the UEFA tournament. But Nicholas is unyielding in his stance that the 42-cap Scotland international cannot embark on another season as the Gers’ best goalkeeper.
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