Glasgow Rangers gave their supporters a moment to remember last time out in the Scottish Premiership when they beat Dundee 4-3 away from home.
A last-gasp winner from Cyriel Dessers to complete a comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3 last weekend was a joyous moment for the travelling support, but it was still a game that illustrated the team’s flaws.
The club’s city rivals are inching closer to a fourth successive Premiership title, as they sit 13 points clear of the Light Blues as it stands, and the Gers have to do something to change the tide next season.
Sky Sports reported last month that a takeover including US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has been agreed in principle, which suggests that the dawn of a new era at Ibrox is a matter of months away.
This could mean that there is a longer-term replacement for Philippe Clement than Barry Ferguson, but it is not just the management side of the team that should be looked at.
If Rangers want to get back on top in Scottish football then they may need to kickstart their new era by moving on from some of their experienced players who have become used to finishing second, including Jack Butland and James Tavernier.
Why Rangers should move on from Jack Butland and James Tavernier
The Gers captain has been a terrific servant for the club over the years, scoring 130 goals in 504 appearances in all competitions, but he has only won one Premiership title in his career.
Tavernier has also lost a whopping 25 of his 40 appearances against Celtic, winning just ten of those games, and Rangers may need new leadership if they are to progress and move past the Hoops, as he has become used to being behind the club’s rivals on the pitch.
Therefore, it could be time to move on from the 33-year-old veteran, who has lost possession 20.8 times per match in the league this term, to make room for new leaders to step up and lead the team forward.
Butland, meanwhile, has been error-prone in the Premiership this season and it could be time for Rangers to find a new number one to provide more stability between the sticks, after two years of the Englishman at Ibrox.
Appearances
25
Save success rate
69%
Goals prevented
-0.37
Error led to shot
2
Error led to goal
2
Penalties committed
1
As you can see in the table above, the former Stoke City star has underperformed as a shot-stopper and made too many unforced errors to gift shots and goals to the opposition in the league, which is why Rangers should consider moving him on this summer.
The issue for the Light Blues, however, may be finding suitors to buy Tavernier and Butland, as the veteran stars are no longer among the most valuable talents at Ibrox.
The top ten most valuable Rangers players
As per Transfermarkt, both English players are worth £2.5m at this moment in time, and that does not earn either of them a place in the top ten most valuable stars at the club.
Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny is currently the most valuable player at the club, at a whopping £7.6m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to keep hold of him beyond the end of his current loan spell.
The Czechia international has provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch, racking up 17 goals and four assists, in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn his valuation.
Vaclav Cerny
£7.6m
Mohamed Diomande
£5.9m
Nicolas Raskin
£5.5m
John Souttar
£3.8m
Cyriel Dessers
£3.4m
Dujon Sterling
£3.4m
Danilo
£3.4m
Nedim Bajrami
£3.4m
Jefte
£3.4m
Hamza Igamane
£3.4m
As you can see in the table above, Rangers have many players on a market value of £3.4m, which is still £900k more than Tavernier and Butland are currently valued at.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Some of those players could play key roles moving forward, into the dawn of a new era at Ibrox, and one of those the club have hit the jackpot with in recent years is versatile defender Dujon Sterling.
Dujon Sterling's soaring market value
The Scottish giants swooped to sign the English talent in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after he had been released by Premier League side Chelsea.
It was an opportunistic signing by the Gers, as they took advantage of his contract situation, because he was valued at £2.4m by Transfermarkt at the time, which shows that the club landed a £2.4m-rated talent for £0.
His first season at Ibrox, in the 2023/24 campaign, was a struggle because Michael Beale and Clement utilised him in a multitude of positions, with his appearances stretched between right-back, left-back, right midfield, defensive midfield, left midfield, and right wing.
This meant that Sterling did not have a chance to build any consistency in his performances because he was constantly being moved around the pitch to fill different holes in the team.
The 25-year-old star has had slightly more clarity in his game this term, however, as the vast majority of his starts have come as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, which has allowed him to build a rhythm in the middle of the pitch.
Starts
7
Centre-back starts
7
Clearances
37
Blocks
5
Tackles
12
Duels won
31/44 (70% success rate)
As you can see in the table above, Sterling has started at centre-back in seven of his last eight league appearances and provided a dominant presence at the back for the Gers, winning 70% of his duels in those matches.
His overall form for the club and his success in finally nailing down a consistent position on the pitch has led to his market value soaring up to £3.5m, which shows that Rangers hit the jackpot when they signed the defensive ace.
The Light Blues snapped him up for £0 and he has turned out to be an incredibly valuable player, with his quality at centre-back and versatility to play in other roles, as well as being an asset that continues to grow in value.
Rangers must sell Ibrox star who was "one of the best talents in Europe"
As Rangers prepare for a massive squad overhaul in the summer, they should sell a star Gerrard once said was “one of the best talents in Europe”.
ByBen Gray
He is now among the top ten most valuable players at the club, making him worth even more than the likes of Tavernier and Butland, and the defender could have a big future as a centre-back at Ibrox if he can continue his current, dominant, form.