OPINION
With Celtic stumbling towards another title, and Rangers falling short in their efforts to catch up, you must look elsewhere for this season’s Premiership success story.
Kilmarnock were languishing at the bottom of the table in October when Steve Clarke was appointed to replace Lee McCulloch, but now they find themselves in fifth, and will comfortably finish in the top-six when the table splits in three games time.
Their resurgence under the former West Bromwich Albion boss has been utterly impressive, and much of the credit must go to Clarke himself for the turnaround.
Unsurprisingly, the Killie boss has turned heads with his work at Rugby Park, with Rangers heavily linked with a move for him this summer.
Clarke has so far ruled out leaving Kilmarnock for Rangers this summer, but one of the club’s stars does look on his way out, and the Light Blues would do well to move for him.
As reported by the Daily Record, Clarke is resigned to losing midfield destroyer Youssouf Mulumbu this summer with the DR Congo international’s short-term contract coming to an end.
Mulumbu has been ripping up trees in the Premiership this season after signing for Killie as a free agent in November after an injury-plagued spell at Norwich City.
“I wouldn’t say I was over-confident of keeping Youssouf. He came up here to put himself back in the shop window and I think he’s done that with his performances. I imagine a bigger club will come in for Youssouf in the summer as he’s a free transfer. If that happens, we wish him well.
“If that doesn’t materialise and he wants to stay here, he knows all he has to do is chap my door,” said Clarke.
It is clear that Mulumbu sees himself at a bigger club than Kilmarnock next season, and it seems as though Clarke is thinking that an English team will come and snap him up.
However, that bigger club does not necessarily have to be from down south, and Rangers should be the ones to swoop in and take the enforcer away this summer.
The midfielder has shown during his time at Kilmarnock that he has the Premiership down to a tee, and would be able to come in and make an instant impact.
His experience in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion would also be massive for Rangers, and they would benefit from having a player like him around the squad.
Mulumbu may not necessarily be a starter at Ibrox, but he would be a brilliant squad member to have to provide cover in midfield, and a free transfer makes this one a no-brainer.