Charlie Nicholas believes Scottish Premiership giants Rangers should replace Leon Balogun, telling the Daily Express that he has doubts about the defender’s quality.
Earlier this month, Balogun made it clear – during a revealing interview with former employers Mainz – that he would jump at the chance to extend his stay at Ibrox.
With his contract expiring in a matter of weeks, however, that decision may soon be taken out of his hands.
According to the Daily Record, Rangers director Ross Wilson will sit down with Balogun, and the club’s other out-of-contract players, to discuss their futures over the next couple of days.
The former Wigan stopper played 37 games for the Europa League runners-up in 2021/22. But, at 33 and having lost his left-sided centre-half berth to the outstanding Calvin Bassey, there is a distinct possibility that the Scottish Cup final victory over Hearts will be his final appearance for the Glasgow giants.
“I think (Giovanni) van Bronckhorst has an enormous rebuild this summer. I’d expect Ross Wilson and his team will be on the road on that front,” says Nicholas, the former Scotland international.
“I don’t think Leon Balogun is good enough. They could need four or five defenders they will need to bring in because, so far, it is only John Souttar they have lined up to come in.”
Rangers could replace Leon Balogun with West Brom’s Cedric Kipre
Souttar, who shone against Rangers at Hampden Park on Saturday, looks a readymade successor for the similarly out-of-contract Goldson, possessing an excellent passing range and serious physical gifts.
Souttar is unlikely to be the only new defender arriving through the front door this summer however.
The Gers missed out on Danilho Doekhi to Bundesliga high-flyers Union Berlin and have reportedly turned their attention to West Brom’s Cedric Kipre.
The seldom-seen, £1 million Frenchman is available on loan or on a permanent basis (Express and Star). Rangers have reportedly been keen on Kipre since his Motherwell days.
Right-footed but equally comfortable on his left, Kipre could soon be forming a new-look defensive partnership with Souttar at Ibrox.
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“I think Giovanni has the best part of eight players to find,” says Nicholas.
“I expect them to look around Europe to bring in younger players. In the Bassey-type, where they can bring them in cheaply and develop them.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they went to look at the Serbian and Croatian markets to bring in younger players.”
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