Rangers Director of Football Mark Allen has said that the club will attempt to become “less and less reliant” on the loan market this summer.
Manager Steven Gerrard has made a number of temporary signings in his first season at Ibrox, with Liverpool’s Ryan Kent being the standout performer with six goals and nine assists in attack for the Gers.
Centre-back Joe Worrall’s move from Nottingham Forest and the first five months of Jermain Defoe’s 18-month spell have both also been successful, but Allen told Rangers TV, as quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times, that he wants to focus on permanent additions to his squad this summer.
“I don’t think it’s a secret to say we are looking at somebody in that attacking midfield area that can bring us a little bit of joy towards the top end of the pitch,” the Director of Football said.
“It’s going to be strengthening bearing in mind the number of games we are hoping to be playing again next season. I think the loan market is something that can work for us as a football club with our financial model and the way we operate.
“However, we are trying to become less and less reliant on it because ultimately I’d like to provide a situation where we’re getting returns on investments for the players we sign – but it’s a fine balance.”
OPINION
Loan signings have been a massive part of the bedrock of Rangers’ season because they have brought so much success. Along with Kent, Defoe has been magnificent up front. Since joining from the Cherries in January, he has bagged six goals and five assists in 12 Premiership appearances, while overall he has three more goals and two more assists from the first part of his spell north of the border. Another player who has been great is Worrall, who kept summer signing Nikola Katic out of the team for a good while after arriving shortly into the New Year. But if Rangers are to progress next season, they need to build a team with players in it that will be around for years to come, not players who will be around for one season then leave. Finding long-term targets may be a harder solution than finding a quick fix, but it is definitely worth the wait when the players gel.