OPINION
While Rangers fans no doubt wish they had the cash to throw at their side in a bid to catch fierce rivals Celtic, the Gers are going to have to make the ground up on the Hoops the hard way.
The financial gap between the Glasgow rivals is much more significant than the points gap which exists in the Premiership table, and with no easy fix, the Light Blues will have to try and overcome it with clever spending on quality signings.
However, they likely took a heavy hit in their hopes of bridging the chasm last summer, when Pedro Caixinha’s overhaul of the club saw half-decent talent depart Ibrox and unknown quantities take their place, with many of the risks not paying off.
One such gamble was the capture of Bruno Alves, the Portuguese international defender, whose experience of years playing the game have not made up for his lack of physical attributes, having lost a lot of his pace and agility.
Now it seems as though Rangers could be given an easy way to get him out of the club and save on his reported £28,000-a-week wages, with the Daily Record claiming that Vitoria Guimaraes are keen on having a shock reunion with their former star.
However, the move is said to depend on Rangers not only releasing him from his contract to avoid a transfer fee but making a financial contribution to allow the Portuguese side to afford his wages.
Rangers might be desperate for some new signings, but even they are beyond paying a player to leave.
Getting out of his wage commitments would be a huge boost but they must resist this approach and wait for an offer which works in their favour.
He might be a big lump at the back, but even that is better than nothing, and if they are keen on getting him off their books, then offering him around will likely find at least one suitor.