OPINION
Rangers face a crucial summer transfer window as they look to finally close that gap on rivals Celtic for good, and one thing that they need to add to their squad is experience.
The Light Blues have an exciting squad made up of some extremely talented young players, but there has seemed to be a lack of leadership and experience at times this season.
Captain Lee Wallace has been injured for most of the campaign, as has striker Kenny Miller, and former Premier League midfielder Graham Dorrans. Bruno Alves, who has over 100 caps for Portugal, has been hit and miss, and Russell Martin has only been at the club since January.
It looks likely that Miller and Alves will be leaving Ibrox this summer, and Martin’s future is not entirely certain with his loan spell also set to end.
Those departures may leave this squad with a serious lack of know-how and wisdom, and whoever is manager, whether it be Graeme Murty or someone else, will have to address that in the transfer window.
As reported by the Daily Record, nine-time Scotland international Jamie Mackie is set to leave QPR this summer when his contract ends.
Rangers would do well to move in for the 32-year-old, who has vast experience in the Premier League and the Championship during his career.
Mackie will have spent six seasons at QPR when he leaves this summer, making 60 appearances in the top-flight in that time along with 77 in the Championship.
That kind of experience will come in handy for Rangers, who need players that have been there and done it at the top level.
This is not to say that Mackie is a bona-fide Premier League star, but he will definitely add some much-needed smarts to the Rangers squad.
Players like him will be vital not necessarily on the pitch, but off it, as they guide this talented Rangers squad through their transition from challengers to champions.
And, to get that kind of impact for free is an absolute no-brainer for Rangers.