Why £5m transfer can solve Rangers’ winger problems

Glasgow Rangers manager Derek McInnes has clearly identified the defence as one of the weak points in the squad, making several additions to bolster the team in that area already.

The Scottish boss has signed Ben Godfrey and Ross McCrorie for the back four, Ivor Pandur in goal, and Cammy Devlin and Dan Neil as defensive midfielders.

Lawrence Shankland, who signed before McInnes took the job on from Danny Rohl, is the only natural attacking player who has been brought in by the Light Blues so far.

One of the objectives between now and the end of the summer transfer window for the Scottish Premiership giants should be to sign some wingers to bolster the manager’s squad.

Why Rangers need to sign more wingers

The Gers should be in the market to add more quality to their options on the wing for several reasons, including the fact that Mikey Moore and Andreas Skov Olsen returned to their parent clubs at the end of last season.

With Findlay Curtis returning from Kilmarnock, Rangers are still one winger down from the 2025/26 campaign and need to ensure that McInnes has the depth that he needs to compete on all fronts.

On top of that, the options that the Light Blues did have at their disposal last season did not offer consistent quality in the final third, as none of their wingers scored more than six goals in the league.

Rangers simply need more goals from their wide players if they want to win the Premiership for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign, as they had Ryan Kent delivering consistently at the top end of the pitch when they last lifted the trophy.

The English winger scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 37 appearances in the competition for the Scottish giants, four more goals than Moore scored last term and seven more than Djeidi Gassama managed.

That is why McInnes should be pushing for the club to dip into the market to sign more difference-makers who can go and win matches on their own for the Gers.

Rangers’ new Ryan Kent could solve their winger problems

Now, the club are said to be pursuing a move for a player who has the potential to fill that gap in the squad and become their next version of Kent at Ibrox.

Journalist Mark Hendry reports, via his Substack page, that Rangers are interested in a deal to sign Leicester City attacker Stephy Mavididi in the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Light Blues have already made contact with the League One side, who were relegated from the Championship last season, and are in talks over a move for the English winger.

Hendry adds, though, that the Foxes are looking for a fee of around £7m for the 28-year-old star, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers are prepared to splash that kind of money on him.

If the board can reach an agreement with Leicester for Mavididi, the English winger could arrive to become McInnes’ own version of Kent in the Premiership next season.

The left-sided attacker has not enjoyed the best time in the last couple of seasons, scoring ten goals in 78 games, but he has been in a Leicester team that suffered back-to-back relegations, which made it difficult to shine as an attacker.

When he was last in a team that played on the front foot and dominated matches, though, he showcased his quality on the left wing in the 2023/24 Championship season under Enzo Maresca.

The former Arsenal and Juventus prospect scored 12 goals from 9.09 xG and produced 8.61 xA and six assists in 46 appearances in the Championship that turn, whilst completing 1.5 dribbles per match.

His return of 23 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined was even better than the 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined that Kent produced for Rangers in the Premiership when they last won the title.

Like Kent, Mavididi is a right-footed left winger who likes to dribble at opponents and cut inside to score and create goals on a regular basis, as evidenced by his form when he was last in a strong team.

Whilst his goalscoring numbers in the last two seasons are not impressive on paper, Leicester’s struggles as a club have to be taken into account, and Rangers should look to his form in a positive environment instead.

That is why McInnes should be pushing the club to pay the £7m required to bring the winger to Ibrox in the coming weeks, as he has the potential to be a fantastic addition to the squad.