Former Rangers star and Ibrox hero Barry Ferguson has said that he predicts that the club will go on another transfer spree in the January window after delivering the damning verdict that only half of the summer signings have been a success.
The Gers conducted a massive overhaul of their senior side following the appointment of Steven Gerrard as manager with 15 players arriving at Ibrox, with a number more stars leaving the club as they were booted out the exit door.
However, Ferguson has not been too impressed by what he has seen from many those new arrivals and insists that he is expecting Dave King to back Gerrard to recruit more talent in the winter window.
He told PLZ Soccer – The Football Show on Youtube: “I don’t think he would have said that if he’s not going to be given the funds to go and strengthen. I think there is funds there for him in January. I do think Rangers are still short of two or three players.
“He’s made some good signings but when you bring in 14 or 15 players not every single one of them is going to hit the ground running. Maybe 50 or 60 per cent of them who have done really well but the other ones have fell away a wee bit.
“He’s laid down the gauntlet and said, ‘If you’re not going to produce, you’re not going to be here so I will just go out and get someone else’. I do think the Rangers board will back him.”
Opinion
Ferguson has perhaps been a little harsh with his verdict on those who joined Rangers over summer, with only a handful who have been given the chance not making the desired impact. Umar Sadiq and Eros Grezda are perhaps the duo who Ferguson is referring to, the latter having suffered with injury problems, but everyone else has played their part and had a mostly positive impact on the club – even if there have been some shaky performances in a couple of games. As for January, you know that Gerrard will constantly be looking at improving his side and that there will be a list of targets written up – perhaps ones missed over the summer – who he will be hoping to recruit. However, the squad already looks pretty bloated and it would take some senior exits to make room in both the dressing room and on the wage bill before anyone else comes in. Who is Gerrard going to axe? Only time will tell, but there are some prime candidates – if the interest is there from other sides.