Rangers have problems at the heart of their defence – and we’re not just referring to a bizarre habit they appear to have picked up during the first few months of the current campaign.
Strangely enough, the reigning Scottish Premiership champions have gone behind in 11 of their 22 games this season, conceding as many goals in 13 league matches as they did in 38 last term.
But it’s not merely the form of Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun that has supporters wringing hands and scratching heads. Their future, at present, looks equally unsteady.
Goldson and Balogun are due to become free agents in July and it seems little headway has been made on securing new deals.
Assuming both players leave in the summer, that would leave Rangers’ new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst with only two first-team centre-backs – the injured Filip Helander and the unconvincing Jack Simpson.
Calvin Bassey, meanwhile, didn’t exactly ace his audition when given a chance in the centre during Rangers’ Europa League defeat to Sparta Prague in September.
Van Bronckhorst, then, faces a substantial task as he takes his place in the Ibrox dugout – return Rangers to the solidity of last season while replacing two title-winning heroes.
Could Doekhi be Van Bronckhorst’s first Rangers signing?
Rangers have been linked with a move for Hearts ace John Souttar – scorer of Scotland’s first goal in their World Cup qualification victory over Denmark in midweek.
But the appointment of a manager with an Eredivisie winner’s medal on his CV has some supporters wondering whether the Gers will look further afield for defensive reinforcements.
In April, Dutch publication De Gelderlander reported Rangers were ready to offer Vitesse Arnhem captain Danilho Doekhi a three-year deal.
Six months on, the Glasgow giants may be tempted to renew their interest given Doekhi – like Goldson, Balogun and Souttar – is out of contract next year.
As things stand, it isn’t certain Doekhi is someone Van Bronckhorst admires. Or, for that matter, whether he was a Gerrard target or on director Ross Wilson’s radar instead.
But if Rangers are still interested, Van Bronckhorst’s Dutch connections could come in very handy.
Here’s what some Rangers fans on Twitter made of the Doekhi and Van Bronckhorst connection:
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
