Rangers opinion – Gers should reignite their interest in Jake Cooper
After getting on the wrong side of the Old Firm derby, surely Rangers’ slightest hope of winning the title is gone. With them being out of the Scottish Cup as well, the aim to win at least one trophy is in the smoke this season.
Hence, the focus now should be to dwell on how to improve this squad so that they can fare better next season. While the attacking department needs some quality back-up and assurance of Ryan Kent’s future, the defensive line requires a lot of work before it gets sorted.
Conor Goldson has had a decent season, but his centre-back partners haven’t done enough to warrant a regular place in the team for seasons to come.
Therefore, it is imperative from Rangers’ point of view that they sign a quality centre-back in the summer window.
After the arrival of Steven Gerrard as the new manager, the Gers were linked with a £3m move for Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper last summer. But the move couldn’t be pushed through.
There were suggestions from the Scottish Sun that the Ibrox-based club would go in for the 24-year-old in the January transfer window. However, nothing happened on those lines.
Here’s why Rangers should reignite their interest in Jake Cooper once the transfer window reopens:
Cooper’s quality would be a great addition to the Rangers team
Jake Cooper is a proper old-fashion centre-back who is physically strong and aerially adept in winning aerial duels. He is a bit of a no-nonsense player who focuses on clearing the dangers first before thinking of playing out from the back. (5.9 clearances per game this season)
In terms of the aerial duels, the 24-year-old has won 6.3 per game on an average so far this season. The Englishman has scored five goals and assisted six, supporting to the fact that he is a real threat from set-pieces. (Whoscored.com)
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Conclusion
All in all, Cooper is a quality defender, who, in all probability, would enhance the standard of Rangers defending.
He could be an ideal partner for Goldson. Steven Gerrard can then create the base and build a solid team around this duo. This sounds like a perfect setting but only if Rangers push hard and make the move for Cooper in the summer.
