Sports
Rangers line up a transfer for Rohl who’d be a better signing than Windass
The January transfer window is around a week away from opening for business and Glasgow Rangers could be busy, as Danny Rohl looks to bolster his squad for the first time.
One player who has already been linked with a move to Ibrox is former Gers forward Josh Windass, currently at Wrexham. The club reportedly had a loan offer turned down for the English attacker.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish Premiership giants will return with another approach for the 31-year-old attacking midfielder, who has produced six goals and three assists in the Championship, per Sofascore, this season.
Rangers lining up move for new defender
Whilst Windass, who has scored 19 league goals since the start of last season, could be a shrewd addition to the squad on a short-term loan deal, the club are reportedly looking at a player who would be an even better signing.
According to Sky Sports, Glasgow Rangers are lining up a move to sign Westerlo left-back Tuur Rommens to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.
The report claims that the Scottish giants are ‘tracking’ the 22-year-old full-back ahead of a potential swoop for his services in the upcoming January transfer window.
It adds that Rangers are ‘hopeful’ of adding reinforcements to their defence before the end of the window, with Rommens one of their targets as they set about bolstering their backline.
However, Sky Sports does not reveal how much Westerlo will want for their young star, or how much the Gers are willing to pay to bring him to Ibrox.
Why Rommens would be a better signing than Windass
The Light Blues should push harder to get a deal done for Rommens than they do with Windass, because he would be an even better signing than the Englishman, with a view to the future in mind.
Windass, given his return of six goals and three assists in the Championship this season, could provide Rohl’s side with a short-term boost in the second half of the campaign as a loan signing, as he could add a goal threat to the team.
But Rangers are already 12 points adrift in the Scottish Premiership title race and there may not be too much benefit to making short-term signings, as the 31-year-old would be if they brought him in on loan.
Rommens, who was wanted by Lecce and Hoffenheim in the summer, is a 22-year-old talent who could arrive on a permanent deal with a view to being Rohl’s first-choice option at left-back for many years to come, helping them towards building a team that can compete for the title next season, and beyond.
Left-back has been a problem position for the Light Blues this season because teenage loanee Jayden Meghoma is the only natural option in the squad. That has left Max Aarons playing out of position at left-back at times.
Rommens would, therefore, be a much-needed signing for the Gers because he would come through the door as their only permanent left-back option, given Meghoma is due to return to Brentford in the summer.
The 22-year-old star, who scout Elijah Michiels claimed “keeps improving”, has also shown enough on the pitch in the Pro League this season to suggest that he would also walk through the door as an immediate upgrade on Meghoma.
|
25/26 season |
Rommens |
Meghoma |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
14 |
14 |
|
Big chances created |
6 |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
2 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
3.6 |
2.8 |
|
Clearances per game |
4.4 |
1.9 |
|
Duels won per game |
6.9 |
3.4 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
61% |
59% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
68% |
18% |
As you can see in the table above, Rommens has been more effective creatively and as an out-and-out defender in comparison to the Rangers loanee at league level this season.
Whilst most of those statistics suggest that the Belgian star would improve Rohl’s defence, the one that really stands out is his success rate in aerial duels, which is why Meghoma seriously struggles as an undersized full-back.
Rommens is incredibly strong in the air, winning almost 70% of his aerial contests, and adding his physical presence to the Rangers defence could improve their defending at set-pieces and from crosses.
At the age of 22, the Belgian talent would also arrive at Ibrox as a young player with potential to grow and develop in the years to come, making him a quality addition for the short and long term.
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Therefore, Rommens would be an even better signing than Windass because he can have an immediate impact on results with his quality on and off the ball at left-back, but he would also be a permanent signing that could shape the future of the team, rather than a short-term fix.
