Having finished third in the 2017/18 edition of the Scottish Premiership, Rangers will have their work cut out in the upcoming season if they are to put up a stronger challenge to break Celtic’s monopoly.
The Light Blues have brought in new manager Steven Gerrard in order to take the club back to its glory days and the former Liverpool man has wasted no time in dipping his toes in the transfer market to improve the squad. The Gers have already signed Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor and Jamie Murphy and are pursuing more targets.
While Gerrard will have come in with his own list of players, Rangers should also look at some of their previous transfer targets that could come into the team and help them topple Celtic next season. To that end, here are three players that were on the Gers’ radar in the past, that they should look to sign this summer.
Louis Moult (Preston North End)
The 25-year-old striker was heavily linked with a move to the Ibrox last summer but eventually left Motherwell to join EFL Championship side Preston North End in January. However, things haven’t gone all too well for Moult at the Deepdale. The Englishman started just three of the ten Championship games he has featured in and found the back of the net only twice.
His records in Scotland with Motherwell make for a much better reading though, with 50 strikes and 16 assists in 98 appearances in a two-and-a-half-year spell.
A proven striker in the Scottish Premiership with an impressive goalscoring record, Rangers could do with his presence in the attacking line-up next season.
Emerson Hyndman (Bournemouth)
The Bournemouth midfielder spent the 2016/17 campaign on loan with the Gers and had performed ably. The club wanted him back in January with then manager Graeme Murty particularly intent on bringing the Englishman back into the fold.
During his stay with the Gers, Hyndman went on to make 20 appearances, impressing with returns of 4 goals and 4 assists in the process.
Following his return to Bournemouth, the 22-year-old featured just four times for the Cherries in the 2017/18 season, only two of which were from the start.
The dynamic box-to-box midfielder did very well during his time at the Ibrox and the chance to play under a legend like Gerrard could appeal to him as well. Rangers should definitely consider signing him again, even if it is on a loan deal.
Devante Cole (Wigan Athletic)
The 23-year-old striker, son of Manchester United legend Andy Cole, was linked with a move to Glasgow in January but instead ended up signing for Wigan Athletic from Fleetwood Town.
Since moving to the DW Stadium though, Cole has struggled for game time and has made just 6 appearances for the Latics, managing a solitary assist.
Prior to that, the pacey striker had netted 12 times for Fleetwood, laying on 6 assists as well for his teammates, which highlights his potential.
With Wigan earning promotion to the EFL Championship, they are likely to boost up their attacking ranks, which would further hinder Cole’s chances in the first-team. The Gers, given the lack of backup for Alfredo Morelos, should rekindle their interest in the former Manchester City academy man this summer.