Rangers set for yet more Kevin Thelwell pain as Premier League transfer expected in January
Rangers look set to be dealt another reminder of Kevin Thelwell’s failings when the January transfer window gets underway.
The former Everton chief quickly became a hugely hated figure among the fanbase at Ibrox, as he made countless crucial errors during his time as the club’s sporting director.
Rangers finally sacked Thelwell and their former Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Stewart, back in November after their campaign had quickly been left in tatters following a poor start to the season.
The pair helped to oversee some typically shoddy recruitment in the summer, and that has unsurprisingly left the Gers well off the pace in terms of the Premiership title race.
Leeds and Nottingham Forest chase deal for failed Rangers summer target
Football Insider recently revealed that Rangers are targeting an “experienced” sporting director to step into Thelwell’s vacant role in the coming months.
However, while the ex-Ibrox chief is no longer anything to do with the club, the effects of his failings are certainly still being felt.
One of the most notable errors of Rangers’ summer transfer window was the failed attempt to sign Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan.
The 23-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Govan for several weeks, and there were even reports from Ibrox Noise that he underwent a medical, but he ended up joining Hibernian instead.
Rangers’ inability to finalise that deal now looks set to come back to haunt them, as Mulligan is being linked with a move to the Premier League just a few months on from his arrival at Hibs.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are both eyeing a move for the starlet, while Lille and Wolfsburg have already made contact about a potential deal, according to Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis.
The prospect of a sale to the Premier League will likely see a significant sum involved by Scottish Premiership standards, but it will be Hibs who stand to net that fee, rather than Rangers, as it arguably should have been.
Rangers’ set for major risk with Director of Football plan
Football Insider revealed at the start of December that Rangers are prioritising a move for a new chief executive, before they address the space left by Thelwell’s dismissal.
Andrew Cavenagh and Co. are understood to potentially be willing to wait until February before appointing a new Director of Football.
That would likely be a simply foolish decision, given the way that their summer recruitment has played out.
There have been very few success stories from the Gers’ latest batch of arrivals, and it is clear to see that they need to work hard to fix the issues in the squad in January.
However, their plan to navigate rudderless through the winter market is highly unlikely to unfold in their favour and secure them the sensible additions that they need.