pete 2,499 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) Rangers want a Premier League loan signing in January but who could Mark Warburton go for? 16:59, 4 Nov 2016 Updated 16:59, 4 Nov 2016 By Alan Clark WE profile the potential targets the Ibrox club could be eyeing ahead of a swoop in the upcoming window. RANGERS were dealt a huge blow when it was confirmed Niko Kranjcar will be out for six months with a cruciate injury. The creative midfielder had been improving week by week and beginning to prove his worth to the Ibrox side. But the Croat's injury, alongside the absence of Joey Barton, has left Warburton with two spaces in his midfield pool from the start of the campaign. Warburton has already spoken of his desire to bring in a loan from the English Premier League in replacement. SNS Rangers manager Mark Warburton Rangers manager Mark Warburton And on Friday he reiterated his desire when he said: "So we’ll look if possible to get a suitable loanee in from the Premier League. "It’s an ongoing process. If the recruiting department are doing their job you have to know your targets. "The likelihood, the availability, fees, costs, wages – any club worth its salt will already have all that information to hand. You might lose a player to a club so you have to have every eventuality covered." So now we know he wants someone in, who could it be? Record Sport Online profile the potential Premier League stars that Rangers may look to acquire on loan in the January transfer window: Harry Winks Linked with a loan switch to Ibrox last summer, Tottenham Hotspur youngster Winks is a player Warburton really likes the look of, that's for sure. And quite rightly, because so does Mauricio Pochettino, evidenced by securing the 20-year-old on a new five-year contract in September. Winks was given his first call-up to the England under-21 squad just yesterday and has 219 minutes under his belt for Spurs this campaign - starting two in the EFL Cup, three brief substitute roles in the league and half an hour across two Champions League ties. Pochettino may be reluctant to let him go out on loan if he is being viewed as back-up in his side, but with the January window coming he may be looking at new additions himself so that could free up the option of Winks getting first-team action elsewhere. Warburton has a good relationship with most of the top sides in the English top-flight and would like to think he could persuade White Hart Lane officials that Rangers in the Premiership would be a good fit for Winks. Gedion Zelalem Rangers fans will know all about Zelalem after a season-long loan spell in the Championship last season - especially his cool-as-you-like penalty finish (and celebration) against Celtic in the Hampden shoot-out. The creative Arsenal starlet came to Ibrox with much expected of him. Heralded as one of Arsenal's top prospects, he didn't quite achieve all that he could have in Scotland, enjoying an impressive first half of the season before being in and out of the side in the second period. Young, gifted and in demand? The European giants you should ignore or sign for if you’re a top talent from Scotland Zelalem showed enough in his time to show that he can be a useful player, capable of unlocking defences with passes and a vision not many players have. A bit like Kranjcar, but without the spectacular goals. His lightweight build was an issue in the Championship and would be again in the top-flight, but his ability to unlock teams who sit behind the ball could tempt Warburton to look at the American under-23 international again. Jake Brimmer An Australian of Maltese ancestry who grew up a Liverpool fan - not everyday you hear that combination. The 18-year-old midfielder is currently impressing in the Liverpool academy having arrived two years ago from Down Under. He hasn't had the experience of being sent out on loan to another club yet, so is inexperienced on that front - but he does have international experience at under-17 and under-20 for Australia. A lively player always eager to get into goalscoring positions, Brimmer may be just the type of young Premier League star Warburton is seeking. And there's no doubt Frank McParland could use his contacts on Merseyside to assist. On the other hand, he may see his lack of game time in a competitive environment a downside when coming into the rustle and bustle of the Scottish Premiership. Joseph Willock A team-mate of Zelalem's and brother to Chris at Arsenal, the stylish midfielder is another highly-rated academy prospect at the Gunners. Capable of playing through the middle or on either flank, Willock is very much of the attacking mindset and would fit into Warburton's system as a replacement for Kranjcar - and would join a growing list of Joseph's at Ibrox. Like Brimmer though, he is just 18 years of age and hasn't had any loan spells in a competitive nature - however neither did Zelalem before his move north. Willock scored for England against Scotland in last year's Victory Shield in what he described as a "special moment" for him. Arsene Wenger could be tempted by any approach from Rangers given the relative success enjoyed by Zelalem in the Championship last season. Aiden O'Neill Another young midfielder that has made the switch from Australia to England to develop his football career, O'Neill plies his trade at Burnley. At the age of just 18, the central midfielder has played 82 minutes of Premier League football already this season over three games, as well as the full 90 minutes and extra time of the Clarets' EFL Cup game against Accrington Stanley. Between now and January, he will feature again in one of the world's hardest leagues and that experience can only help develop a player of that tender age. However,O'Neill has held his own in the substitute appearances he's had. Warburton and Sean Dyche have a well-documented friendship with the English side visiting Ibrox two seasons in a row for a friendly, and Dyche may see the benefit in sending his prospect to Glasgow until the end of the season for experience in a tough environment. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/rangers-want-premier-league-loan-9194480 Edited November 5, 2016 by pete 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) Not this shit again. They're never any good. Edited November 5, 2016 by the gunslinger 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo 7,038 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Gareth Bale 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chibmark 19 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) Cesc Fabregas has went down the pecking order at Spartak Fulham Edited November 5, 2016 by Chibmark 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacK1950 2,376 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 If we do go for a loan player it must be someone with a bit more experience than 18/19 years old,as we don't have the time to develop these kids just to send them back. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,607 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Zelalem!! Legend. No, in all seriousness, I'd like to get him back. I'm a huge fan of his style and I think it contrasts what we have now: too many number-10s! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7 6,004 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Winks might be better than Nico for all I know but it's not like for like. Nico's replacement needs to be a cracksman not a tough. We could do with a tough as well, though but an honest one like Davis, Greig, Forsyth, not a headcase. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,607 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) Winks might be better than Nico for all I know but it's not like for like. Nico's replacement needs to be a cracksman not a tough. We could do with a tough as well, though but an honest one like Davis, Greig, Forsyth, not a headcase. I actually thought Winks was a winger, but going from the last few games I saw 'spurs play, he is more of a central midfielder. He looks technically proficient like Niko -- not as good nor experienced -- and has a turn of pace. He'd be a good option: someone who looks better than we have, or at least wouldn't look out of place for a 20 year-old. I agree a destroyer verging on headcase would be good, but I doubt we'll get one from a loan signing and from this age-group. Barton...? Edited November 5, 2016 by Rousseau 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7 6,004 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I did say not a headcase. Davis could demolish an opponent without looking excessively brutal. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,744 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) Well, we lose a creative midfielder and they come up with a list that has about one that could be ranked in that category. Maybe MW uttered the word "loan" on purpose,only to sent the media folk scrambling for any would-be option out there ... and deflect from real targets. Unless I am mistaken, the Scandinavians have a winter shut down anyway, so perhaps we look over there for some more permanent recruit ... EDIT: Steven Davis extended his contract at Soton this summer, till 2019. He's 31 now. Edited November 5, 2016 by der Berliner 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.