Jason Holt is a favourite of Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha but Foxes youngster Hamza Choudhury could battle him for a place in the starting XI.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has demonstrated that he is not afraid to dispense with some of the more naturally talented players at his disposal.
Barrie McKay, arguably the most exciting attacker in Rangers’ ranks for many a season, was farmed out to Nottingham Forest for as little as £500,000 after falling out of favour with the disciplinarian manager, as reported by The Sun. The same fate befell Emerson Hyndman, a talented but lightweight loanee who initially impressed after joining from Bournemouth in January.
Caixinha values perspiration as much as inspiration
Clearly, talent without hard work takes you nowhere in Caixinha’s side. Which may explain why Jason Holt played such a major role in the final weeks of the season. The tenacious midfielder was a regular in Caixinha’s starting XI, his energy and work rate ensuring he was more valued that at any point during the tenure of predecessor Mark Warburton.
However, could his place come under threat too? HITC sources are telling us that Rangers are hoping to land 19-year-old Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury on a season-long loan deal.
The talented teenager, whose giant afro ensures he stands out from the crowd with ease, didn’t make much of an impact on loan at Burton Albion last season, recalled in January after just six Championship starts.
However, his positional intelligence and ball winning abilities could make him a useful asset in a Rangers midfield with plenty of creativity though lacking in the defensive dark arts.
Holt barely missed a minute under Caixinha
Therefore, he would arrive at Ibrox as a direct competitor to Holt and perhaps the clearest threat to his position in front of a new-look Rangers’ defence.
Even one of Caixinha’s favourites could be put under pressure by this major summer overhaul.
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