Rangers’ director of football Mark Allen has started to identify transfer targets as he plans to strengthen the Gers in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim that Allen is already working on plans to sign Burnley’s Scott Arfield, whose contract expires at the end of this season, and hopes to make the 29-year-old midfielder his first summer recruit.
The Daily Mail report that Arfield currently earns in excess of £20,000-a-week at Turf Moor and that his wage is the biggest obstacle that the Gers have to overcome in order to get his signature.
Arfield isn’t the only midfielder that the Gers are currently looking at, as the Mail states that the club are also keen on Crystal Palace’s James McArthur.
The 30-year-old central midfielder, just like Arfield, is currently set to be out of contract in the summer despite making 32 appearances for Roy Hodgson’s side this season.
It is also believed the Gers’ director of football wants to recruit two new central defenders after Danny Wilson left for MLS and David Bates signed a pre-contract agreement with Hamburg.
Good move for Rangers?
Yes, it’s fantastic news that Allen is already working hard to find players capable of improving the Gers next season.
Arfield would be a much celebrated arrival at Ibrox if the club were able to get the left-sided midfielder’s signature, as he has impressed during the 18 league appearances he has made for Burnley this season.
The capture of McArthur would also be a fantastic coup for the club, as the 30-year-old brings tons of experience as well as that little bit of quality that Graeme Murty’s side currently lack.
The fact that both midfielders are currently on course to be free agents in the summer means that the Gers cannot afford to miss out on pursuing their signatures.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
There will definitely be new arrivals at Ibrox, as the current squad needs revamping, but whether it’ll be either of the players directly mentioned is debatable.
Arfield’s potential wage demands could easily see him going somewhere other than the Gers, while the Daily Mail claims that McArthur would like to remain in England.
However it’s seems very likely that Allen will welcome two new centre-backs to the club as the departures of Allen and Bates will leave the club with not enough options at the back.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10