How many midfielders do Rangers need after busy summer?
Rangers' summer recruitment drive has left the club with a glut of central midfielders, creating unexpectedly stiff competition even for new signing Cammy Devlin following his move from Hearts. Manager Derek McInnes has added three defensive midfielders—Devlin, Dan Neil from Sunderland, and 20-year-old Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan—to a squad that already contained six established central midfielders plus three additional players returning from loan spells, resulting in a congested battle for starts.
The overcrowding is expected to ease with the anticipated sale of Nicolas Raskin, whose impressive World Cup display has attracted interest from top-tier European sides and appears likely to depart before the season begins. Beyond Raskin's exit, McInnes must manage competition from established options including Connor Barron and Tochi Chukwuani, whilst navigating reported links to further defensive midfield targets like Ryan Fosso. The challenge for the new manager will be maintaining squad cohesion and providing opportunities across a deep midfield contingent ahead of the opening fixture against Dundee United.
- Rangers signed three central midfielders despite an already crowded engine room of six-nine players competing for similar roles
- Expected departure of Nicolas Raskin to a top-five European league should ease the midfield surplus
- New manager Derek McInnes must navigate intense competition for starting positions, including recent addition Cammy Devlin
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Rangers have recruited several new midfield players during the summer under manager Derek McInnes. The club has signed Cammy Devlin from Hearts, Dan Neil from Sunderland, and 20-year-old Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan Belgrade, adding significant depth to that part of the pitch.
These arrivals have created a congested midfield, with the new players joining six established central midfielders already at the club plus others returning from loan arrangements. This abundance of choice leaves McInnes with the challenge of fairly distributing playing time and maintaining squad contentment, as many talented players will compete for relatively few starting positions.
Experienced midfielder Nicolas Raskin is expected to leave the club after his performances in recent international competition attracted interest from larger European clubs. His departure would reduce the midfield overcrowding and give McInnes more room to manage the competition amongst remaining players before the season begins.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Rangers' recruitment strategy reflects modern football reality, where competing across league play, cup competitions, and European football demands genuine squad depth to manage injuries and fatigue. The signings represent a thoughtful blend of experienced players and promising youth, providing immediate competition whilst building future strength. With upwards of thirteen midfielders, McInnes can meaningfully rotate players across competitions, maintaining performance standards whilst preventing injury crises.
The case against
Rangers have over-recruited in midfield, creating a bloated squad where most players will struggle for regular starts, inevitably breeding frustration and wasting resources. Young talents develop better through sustained first-team football elsewhere than sporadic appearances, and these resources could have been deployed elsewhere or used to retain Raskin. A leaner squad of eight to nine quality midfielders would function more cohesively, cost less in wages, and provide clearer pathways for academy graduates.