‘Coup’ – Stephen Craigan raves about reported Rangers done deal, admits having one worry
BT Sport pundit Stephen Craigan believes that Rangers have pulled off a real coup by signing up Burnley and Canada midfielder Scott Arfield.
Burnley confirmed on Friday that Arfield, 29, had been allowed to enter talks with the Light Blues over signing a pre-contract deal as his existing deal at Turf Moor is due to expire in June.
On Friday, the Daily Record reported that the Canada international has penned a long-term deal at Ibrox and has become their first signing ahead of the summer transfer window.
The completed deal was reportedly masterminded by director of football Mark Allen, and although ex-Motherwell ace Craigan believes that Rangers have done well to get Arfield in, he admits that it will be a worry for whoever may be the next manager at Ibrox.
“Arfield has proven himself in the top-flight of English football,” said Craigan, as shown on BT Sport Football’s official Twitter account on Friday. “So you would think if you think that you’re leaving an English Premier League club to come and play in the Scottish Premiership then it has to be see as a coup for Rangers to get someone like that.
“Do they have similar players to him? Potentially they do.
“It’s probably an okay signing but considering there’s no manager in charge at the minute, for next season, it tells you the signings are being made by Mark Allen and that will be a concern for any manager coming in.”
Football Insider verdict
Considering Rangers have mainly signed players from the Championship or who are rotting in the reserves of Premier League, to get in someone like Arfield is a real great piece of business by Allen. It’s not like the Canadian has been sat on the bench watching Burnley fly high in England’s top-flight, he has been a mainstay of the side and to get him in – on a free transfer – is a huge deal and he could be a real key player for the Light Blues next term. Rangers fans do not seem entirely sure about Allen’s control over transfers, but it seems like that it will have to be something to get used to.
In other Rangers news, the Gers head hunters are considering five managers for the job at Ibrox and one is a miracle worker in a top-flight league.
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