Five Rangers players who could leave in January

Tom Weber

• 16 Dec 2025 03:01 CST
• 4 min read

Analysis

Rangers are looking to overhaul their squad in January and may have to offload several players.

The Ibrox outfit endured a torrid start to the season under Russell Martin, resulting in his sacking at the start of October. He was replaced by Danny Rohl after a lengthy saga, but the problems didn't stop there.

In the summer, Martin was heavily backed by director Kevin Thelwell, who has also since been dismissed, which means that Rohl is now stuck with a bunch of players that were specifically bought for his predecessor.

As a result, there could be a fair bit of player churn in the winter to rectify the mistakes of the previous window. Below, FootballTransfers runs through five Rangers players that could leave in January...

Joe Rothwell

Joe Rothwell was one of Martin's marquee signings in the summer, having previously enjoyed success with him at Southampton, where the two formed a close relationship.

However, much like Martin's stint, the midfielder's time at Ibrox has been a disaster. The 30-year-old has barely played since Rohl's arrival, often not even being selected for matchday squads.

Unsurprisingly, then, the Englishman is fully expected to leave Rangers again after just six months.

Rabbi Matondo

Winger Rabbi Matondo has yet to make a single appearance this season after undergoing knee surgery in the summer. The Wales international is one of several players Rangers will actively look to shop in January.

The 25-year-old has been a hugely underwhelming signing for the Gers and spent the previous season out on loan at 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96.

It will be interesting to see how much, if any, interest Matondo can generate in January after his injury.

Nicolas Raskin

Nicolas Raskin is widely expected to depart Glasgow in 2026, although Rangers would ideally like to keep hold of him until the summer transfer window.

The Belgium international requested a transfer in 2025, but the club refused to sell him. He still has Premier League suitors, and it is believed that offers will come in for him in January.

Rangers will then have a decision to make. Raskin is out of contract in 2027, so the time to cash in on him is running out. A January transfer is perhaps the last opportunity to sell him at a premium.

Kieran Dowell

Attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell hasn't made an appearance for Rangers since August, illustrating that he already found himself on the outside looking in under Martin.

The situation hasn't improved under Rohl. A departure in 2026 is therefore pretty much guaranteed, especially since his contract expires in the summer.

Rangers won't stand in his way if an offer arrives in January, but it remains to be seen if potential suitors will really bid in the winter or wait until the summer to get him on a free transfer.

Djeidi Gassama

Djeidi Gassama recently became the subject of surprise interest from Champions League side Villarreal. The winger started the season in great form, but his level has dipped dramatically in recent times.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old has generated interest ahead of January, and Rangers could potentially double the €2.4 million they transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.

Gassama still has a contract until 2029, so the Gers won't be in a rush to sell him. Given the potential he showed at the start of the season, they may feel that he can still hit another gear and boost his value further.

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