Rangers have dropped big-money signing hint after confirmed Leon Balogun news – pundit
Noel Whelan has backed Rangers to use their Europa League spoils to sign a “younger, fresher” replacement for departed defender Leon Balogun.
The former Leeds and Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted he wasn’t surprised to see the 33-year-old let go by the Ibrox club.
Rangers confirmed on 3 June that both Balogun and Andy Firth have left the club after the expiry of their contracts.
The Nigeria international joined the club in the summer of 2020 and went on to make 65 appearances for the Glasgow giants.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s rearguard is set to be bolstered by the arrival of centre-back John Souttar after he signed a pre-contract agreement in January.
Finance guru Kieran Maguire told Football Insider on 27 May that Rangers are set to “blow their club record out of the water” by announcing revenues “in excess of £90million” for the 2021-22 season.
When asked if the Gers could open the chequebook to sign a Balogun replacement, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “Yeah, absolutely.
“When you’re getting over 30, I think it’s probably the right time to look to freshen things up now.
“Goldson is staying, but Rangers had to cut some players loose – and that’s what they have done.
“They’ll be looking to spend the money on a younger, fresher centre-back who can be there now for the next three, four, five years.
“It wasn’t a surprise for me. He’s been a good servant, but Rangers had to look to the future.
“They can do that by bringing in players while they’ve got that extra cash to spend after a great run in Europe.”
In other news, pundit claims Rangers have just signed up their own James Milner after news from Ibrox.