David Templeton left Ibrox in July 2016, here is why Rangers should bring him back.
Consistency is creeping into Rangers performances as Graeme Murty begins to draw the best out of his faltering Ibrox stars, but a lack of creativity is still an alarming concern within the Light Blues squad.
Arguably, Daniel Candeias has been the Gers only decent source of invention in the final third, providing six Scottish Premiership assists and scoring two goals himself.
The likes of Carlos Pena shines in one game and goes missing in the next, while Niko Kranjcar and Jamie Barjonas are yet to be given a chance. Josh Windass and Kenny Miller have formed a two-man strikeforce, rather than playing deeper.
The Gers need to add a player who is proven in the Scottish Premiership to unlock defences with ease, but with their financial difficulties he must be available on the cheap.
Director of football Mark Allen is in charge of transfers during the January transfer window, and he will have been alerted to the form of ex-Rangers star David Templeton.
The 28-year-old, who left Ibrox in 2016 after four years with the club, has shone this season for Martin Canning’s side and even won the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award for November.
Four goals and five assists this season would see him be able to match the creative influences donned by Candeias and help give the likes of Windass, Miller, Alfredo Morelos and Eduardo Herrera more ammunition to propel Rangers to the top.
Templeton, who helped the Gers climb back up through the leagues, scored 27 goals in 88 games for Rangers as well as laying on 26 assists with his ratio of creating a goal in less than every four games – making him renowned as an assist machine.
Out of contract in the summer, he could be available for a cut-price fee in January if the Gers look to land their former star with his injury problems seemingly in the past. Bringing Templeton back to Ibrox is the signing Rangers need to claw Celtic in.
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