Chermiti sold for €25m and Watt signs - Rangers' dream transfer window

Analysis

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Rangers have a good deal of work to during the summer transfer window as they seek to become a force in the Scottish Premiership title race in 2026/27 after finishing a distant third to Celtic and Hearts.

After a largely ineffective spend of €43.4 million last year, another major summer of renovations loom for the Ibrox giants. The Kevin Thelwell experiment proved an immense failure, and now 49ers Enterprises are being left to pick up the scraps.

Outmanoeuvring Hearts in the transfer market promises to be a difficult challenge given the oversight of Tony Bloom at Tynecastle, while outspending Celtic appears unlikely unless the Parkhead board continue to needlessly penny pinch.

Rangers have already confirmed a broad outline of their plans, telling supporters that they “focus on improving leadership, mentality and squad chemistry, alongside addressing key positional needs.”

The Glasgow outfit, though, do not even know who will be in charge of them come the start of the season, with manager Danny Rohl targeted by Red Bull Salzburg in a deal that is likely to be approved.

This situation adds a further layer of complexity to the dealings of Rangers this summer, with a new manager liable to be at the top of the board’s to-do list before any transfers are completed.

Here’s how an ideal summer in the transfer market might look for the Gers.

RANGERS 2026/27 SIGNINGS

Rangers’ defence is the area that is most in need of surgery, despite Emmanuel Fernandez being touted for a big move. Nasser Djiga’s loan from Wolves is at an end, and he will need replaced, particularly with John Souttar’s body fragile. Dundee’s Luke Graham appears a smart signing while Excelsior Rotterdam captain Casper Widell has the leadership qualities that the Ibrox side crave.

A new right-back is also required. Rangers have already had a bid for Westerlo right-back Bryan Reynolds rejected, and the US international’s attacking qualities would make him an interesting replacement for James Tavernier.

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles is another player being sounded out for a summer move, although competition for the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper is fierce. Rangers’ trump card could be the offer of regular first-team football.

In front of the defence, free agent Dan Neil would be an excellent addition to the club after a spell on loan at Ipswich from Sunderland last season. He would provide strong competition for places in the heart of the field.

Elliot Watt can consider himself unfortunate to have missed out on Scotland honours this season but the Motherwell midfielder could enhance his challenge for international football by signing on at Ibrox. Having proven himself capable of dictating games in a manner that Rangers lacked at crucial moments last season, his match-management would be welcome. A £3 million (€3.5m) asking price is unlikely to be beyond the Gers.

Change is needed in attack, with the confirmed signing of Lawrence Shankland giving Rangers’ their No.9 for the 2026/27 season.

On top of all this, Rangers need to find at least one more winger.

RANGERS 2026/27 SALES

Rangers’ transfer window could be set up by the sale of Youssef Chermiti, who has been linked with an astonishing €25 million switch to Galatasaray that would smash the club record sale. With the Portuguese having been inconsistent at best at Ibrox, the Gers would bite the hand of any team offering such money.

Other changes in attack are possible, too. Bojan Miovski’s return to Scotland proved an ill-judged move, with the former Aberdeen striker having failed to show the menace he did at Pittodrie, while Oliver Antman will depart on the wing along with Nadim Bajrami and loan pair Andreas Skov Olsen and Mikey Moore. Findlay Curtis should be given the chance to step up.

Curtis aside, almost everyone else shipped out on loan should be seen as deadwood: Oscar Cortes, Jose Cifuentes, Ben Davies, Danilo, Ross McCausland and Clinton Nsiala appear to have no future at the club.