Jamie Murphy’s 2018-19 season at Rangers is over due to injury.
Jamie Murphy’s long-term knee injury will surely convince Rangers manager Steven Gerrard to re-enter the market and sign a winger this summer – and he should seriously consider Sporting Lisbon star Ryan Gauld.
Murphy was ruled out for the rest of the 2018-19 season after suffering an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, during the 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
It saw Gerrard, and a handful of other Rangers stars criticise the artificial turf Killie currently use at Rugby Park, rather than the grass pitches that are used elsewhere in Scottish Premiership football.
The Gers do still have Liverpool loanee Ryan Kent and Daniel Candeias as options out wide, while Glenn Middleton has continued to impress after being handed his debut earlier this season.
But another winger is vital if Rangers are to boast the depth required to fight on four fronts, with Europa League qualification within their grasp. Only a play-off against FC Ufa remains in their way.
A winger is required and Gerrard’s first port of call should be attempting to lure Ryan Gauld back to Scotland from Sporting Lisbon, after being linked with a move for the former Dundee United 22-year-old earlier this summer.
Indeed, TeamTalk claimed Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool were all rivalling Rangers for the Sporting Lisbon star, who has managed just five senior appearances for the Portuguese giants since the surprise move in 2014.
Gerrard has got to consider reigniting that interest for the 5ft 5in star because he boasts speed with and without the ball, trickery but importantly and eye for goal and the creativity to provide an assist.
Gauld was left out of Sporting’s 18-man squad for their first two league games, and he is likely to be allowed to leave on loan. He has two years remaining on his contract, but he is a must-buy for Gerrard and Rangers.
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