Russell Martin backed to complete Jamie Vardy signing and avoid Rangers ‘disaster’
Russell Martin is facing a race against the clock to put together his Rangers squad and avoid European “disaster”.
The newly appointed boss has been slowly putting his stamp on the Gers since he arrived at Ibrox at the beginning of last month (5 June).
The Glasgow giants have made the permanent signings of Oscar Cortes, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, and Lyall Cameron so far in the summer window.
However, Rangers only have until the 22nd July to put their squad together, when they face Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying.
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes it could go very wrong for Martin if he doesn’t have his side prepared.
‘Rangers cannot afford to be knocked out of Europe’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness warned that Rangers need to be careful in Champions League qualifying, referring back to when they were beaten by Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn back in 2017.
The Gers enter this season’s competition in the second qualifying round, and will need to win three two-legged ties to reach the main phase of the tournament.
Wyness added Martin is starting to put a promising side together ahead of his maiden campaign in charge.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Russell Martin is going to put together a side of scrappers for next year, but also teams that can score goals and I think he knows that he can’t just play out from the back like Southampton tried to do.
“The thing is, July 22nd is coming around very soon and they’ve got a very big game at Panathinaikos and so he’s got to get that squad together quickly.
“What’s he got now, just over a week? That’s the tough thing with Scottish football, you’re hitting those European qualifiers when everybody’s just getting back off the beach and that’s the really hard thing to do.
“If he can get Vardy in, he’s already got Rothwell in, so there’s something here that Russell is starting to build. Kevin Thelwell knows the market well. So I think together they’re now starting to show that they’re moving, but they’ve got to, with this July 22nd date coming up.
“I know it’s going to be tough because it’s happened to Rangers before, I remember when they lost in Luxembourg, a disaster, and if you get knocked out of Europe too quickly then all you’ve got left is that Scottish season and so you have all those players have joined you for European football and it doesn’t transpire.
“It’s exciting and I think the whole thing for Rangers is positive again, and it’s moving upwards. So watch this space.”
Rangers pushing to complete Crystal Palace signing
Meanwhile, Martin is the driving force behind Rangers’ efforts to sign Crystal Palace star Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
While there have been suggestions of a permanent move for the winger, a loan deal is considered more likely at this stage given the finances involved in the deal.
This comes after former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 8 July that Rangers are considering signing Rak-Sakyi on loan.
However, the Ibrox club are not the only ones interested in the Palace academy product this summer, with a number of clubs keeping a close eye on his situation.
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