Who would Naismith replace at Rangers, if brought back to Ibrox?

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Former Rangers star Steven Naismith has claimed he would welcome a return to Ibrox.

Norwich City striker Steven Naismith has opened the door to a potential return to Rangers in an interview with the Daily Mail, but who would the Scotland international replace in Graeme Murty’s starting eleven?

The 31-year-old has made just two appearances all season for Daniel Farke’s side, sidelined with an ankle ligament injury as well as a groin problem at the start of the season.

However, he has returned to training ahead of the January transfer window, and told BBC Sport that he will be considering his future next month as he remains on the sidelines: “I will need to look at in January.”

Naismith has a rocky relationship with Ibrox fans after departing the club as the Gers were dissolved into the fourth division of Scottish football in 2012, joining the likes of Steven Whittaker, Kyle Lafferty and Allan McGregor in leaving.

However, the 45-time Scotland international now wants to return to his boyhood club, and Graeme Murty should look to lure the playmaker back to Ibrox. But with finances tight, who should he replace?

Murty and director of football Mark Allen are likely to be told that the club can only sign players if they offload a few first. Bringing Naismith to Ibrox should spell the end of expensive flop Carlos Pena.

The 27-year-old powerhouse has proved to be one of the most inconsistent players to pull on the blue of Rangers this season, scoring against Aberdeen in Rangers 3-0 win before being hauled off the pitch at half-time against Ross County.

The Daily Record claims Mexico international Pena and fellow countryman Eduardo Herrera are taking home more than £40,000 a week for the next two and a half years, which is likely to make it difficult to sell the midfielder.

But if the Gers can offload Pena, then they would replace a flop with a player that knows the Scottish Premiership and Rangers fans inside out, as well as well as being able to afford Naismith due to Pena’s sale.