Glasgow Rangers will shortly enter a new era as it looks as though the takeover by the 49ers Enterprises is soon to be complete.
Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers have reportedly finalised a deal which will see them secure a 51% controlling interest in the Ibrox side, and this bodes well ahead of next season.
While Rangers might not have a financial war chest available when the summer transfer window opens, the Gers could well be given a boost as they bid to strengthen a squad which will finish the 2024/25 season trophyless.
The first big decision they will have to make is who to appoint as the new manager. According to TEAMtalk, Steven Gerrard is reportedly open to a return to manage the Gers, having spent three years in charge of the club between 2018 and 2021.
The former Liverpool captain left for Aston Villa, but his recent spell at Al-Ettifaq ended poorly, and he is currently a free agent.
José Mourinho is another name that has been linked with a move to Rangers, despite having a deal until 2026 with Fenerbahçe.
The enigmatic manager showed plenty of class after his side were defeated by the Ibrox side in the Europa League last month, coming into the home dressing room to congratulate the club.
TEAMtalk also claim that he would be open to moving to the Glasgow side, although compensation would have to be agreed between the two clubs.
If he did make the move to Scotland, what sort of impact would he have? Much will depend on the players he can sign, but his name should be enough to attract a few high-profile stars, that’s for sure.
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We’ve put together a dream XI the Portuguese manager could put together if he does move to Glasgow…
1
GK – Liam Kelly
Jack Butland hasn’t endured the best of seasons, making a few high-profile errors, and he could be the player the club cashes in on this summer.
The new manager may well take a look at signing a new goalkeeper, but as a short-term solution, Liam Kelly could be handed the number one jersey.
The 29-year-old has kept four clean sheets in ten games this season, with one coming in the 3-0 win over Celtic at the start of 2025. A solid, but dependable, goalkeeper and the more he plays, the better Kelly will get.
2
RB – Nathan Patterson
There was talk of Nathan Patterson returning to Ibrox in January after failing to break into the Everton starting XI, but nothing materialised.
James Tavernier’s time at the club must surely come to an end this summer, and Patterson would be an excellent replacement. He played 27 times for the Gers before joining the Toffees in January 2022.
3
CB – Bamo Meite
Bamo Meite was another player who was linked with Rangers in January, but he joined Montpellier on loan instead.
He has only played six times for the French side and could well be made available for transfer at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old has plenty of potential. But would he be willing to leave Marseille for Glasgow?
4
CB – John Souttar
When John Souttar is fit, he is the best centre-back at the club, without a shadow of a doubt. His injury record isn’t great, missing 16 games this term due to several issues.
A solid pre-season should allow him to get his match fitness back, and he could become a key player for the club throughout 2025/26 under Mourinho, should he take charge.
5
LB – Ridvan Yilmaz
The Turkish defender has divided opinions during his time at the Gers, but when he is full of confidence, there is an excellent player there.
The 23-year-old has played 29 times this season, battling it out with Jefte for a spot on the left side of the defence.
6
CM – Nico Raskin
Raskin has enjoyed a wonderful season, and he has the qualities required to become the new captain for Rangers once Tavernier departs.
His leadership skills were on show in the 3-2 win over Celtic last month, as he not only opened the scoring but dominated play during the game.
He made his senior Belgian debut last month too, capping off an excellent second half of the season, and he is a player Mourinho would simply love.
7
CM – Mohamed Diomande
Diomande is another who has gone from strength to strength at the heart of the Rangers midfield.
Operating either alongside Raskin or as a number ten behind the striker, the Ivorian can excel in both roles. He has a bright future, especially if he maintains his current form.
8
RW – Vaclav Cerny
If money is available to spend this summer, signing Cerny on a permanent deal should be top of Mourinho’s list of priorities.
Across 47 matches for the club, the winger has scored 17 goals and grabbed seven assists, starring in Europe especially.
Mourinho has had the pleasure of managing some of the finest attackers in Europe and Cerny will be hoping to become another one of them.
9
AM – Gio Reyna
Rangers have recently been linked with a move for Gio Reyna and this could become a statement signing by the club.
According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at €10m (£8.5m) and the Light Blues will need to splash the cash in order to lure him from Borussia Dortmund during the transfer window.
Could Mourinho be the catalyst for this move to happen?
10
LW – Ianis Hagi
While Hagi tends to shine operating in a central role, the Romanian has featured out wide on several occasions this season for the club.
On the left flank, he has scored three goals and grabbed four assists this term, proving that he might have the qualities to shine in this position going forward.
11
ST – Hamza Igamane
Igamane is arguably one of the club’s prized assets due to his impressive debut campaign in Glasgow.
Indeed, a return of 15 goals and three assists has attracted attention from clubs such as Everton and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the transfer window.
If Mourinho arrives at Ibrox, he could well convince Igamane to remain at the club for at least another season.
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