Arsenal loanee could be available due to a lack of first team action, so should Rangers make a move?
General view of Ibrox – Rangers
Rangers’ start to the season has not gone to plan upon their return to the Scottish Premiership.
They currently sit in seventh place with nine points from seven games, losing to Aberdeen at the weekend.
Midfielder Joey Barton was last week suspended after a row with manager and teammates, throwing his future at the club into doubt.
Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem during the warm up
This could leave them looking for new additions in January, and one player they would be wise to consider is last season’s loanee Gedion Zelalem.
Zelalem remains at Arsenal, but has failed to make his way into their first team this season. He was a substitute for their Capital One Cup clash in midweek, and that is as close as he is likely to get to playing for a while.
Rangers’ Gedion Zelalem (R) in action with St Johnstone’s Simon Lappin
In order to progress he needs to move, potentially on another loan if Arsenal don’t want to lose him, and Rangers would be an environment in which he could quickly adapt, having spent the 2015/16 season at Ibrox.
Rangers’ midfield could benefit from Zelalem’s passing and creativity, and they could benefit more greatly long term from putting their trust in a young player, rather than 34-year-old Joey Barton.
With funds clearly limited for the Gers, shown by their transfer activity this summer, a loan deal for Zelalem could be the best mid-season move they can make.
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