Two Championship Free Agents Who Would Be Great Additions For Rangers
Rangers have been busy in the transfer market this summer but as their shock Europa League qualifying exit to Progres Niederkorn showed, there is still work to do before August rolls around.
Given the relative strengths of the leagues in the UK, the English Championship is a place where Rangers could tap again following the snaring of Light Blues fan Graham Dorrans from Norwich City. In a busy and competitive league, some clubs south of the border have allowed some good talent to leave.
Here are two free agents who could do a job for Rangers if given the chance by Pedro Caixinha.
Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle United)
Alright, Newcastle are now a Premier League club, but the Gouff played his football in the Championship last season on Tyneside and that level allowed him to have a sort of renaissance at the club under Rafael Benitez.
A new contract is being discussed to keep Gouffran at Newcastle for one more year, however with nothing decided yet and Christian Atsu at the club permanently to complement the returning Rolando Aarons, it remains to be seen how much game time the Frenchman can expect to receive in the Premier League.
Gouffran chipped in with 5 goals, 3 assists and had a pass completion rate of nearly 80% in the Championship during Newcastle’s title-winning Championship season and finds himself touted as a potential signing at many clubs at this level. Rangers would be a good fit and frankly, he’s a step up from Barrie McKay and after all, the name of the game for Rangers is improvement.
Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland)
Larsson has been plying his trade in the Premier League for a number of years and, despite being at a club which perennially flirted with relegation, he always performed admirably.
The right-sided midfield player is combative, competitive and has expert quality in dead-ball situations which could be absolutely vital to a club like Rangers this season. Sunderland are in the Championship these days and have released some players to relieve their wage bill. One of them is the 32-year-old Swede.
Signing the 90-times capped international would not be a return to the rubbish transfer policy of last summer, as this guy is not a a Premier League ‘throw-out’ and could still perform at that level without any problems.
Larsson has been a free agent since July 1st and although he may command a big wage, he may be willing to come to Ibrox and see the quest for trophies as a welcome change from continually fighting relegation.