Not just Rothwell: Rangers need to sell dud who’s “done nothing” under Rohl

January will provide Rangers boss Danny Rohl with the perfect opportunity to try and right the wrongs of the summer, with the German having inherited a deeply-flawed squad from the previous regime.

Reinforcements, if funds are available, will certainly be needed, while the winter window will also provide the chance to bite the bullet and discard those who have failed to flourish at Ibrox.

Joe Rothwell, categorised as Russell Martin’s man, looks to be the first definite departure heading into the New Year, even with the Englishman having signed a three-year deal upon his free transfer arrival.

An experienced addition, the 30-year-old faced notable criticism in the early months of the campaign, with former Rangers ‘keeper Cammy Bell among those outlining how the midfielder has “really struggled” in Scottish football.

Those ‘struggles’ have since seen the ex-Southampton man feature just twice since the change in the dugout, with clubs – somewhat surprisingly – now queuing up to end his Gers nightmare.

The latest on Joe Rothwell's Rangers future

As Kris Boyd alluded to earlier this season, the Light Blues have been stung far too often in recent times by dipping into what he described as an “inflated” and “overrated” market in England’s EFL, with the former Scotland striker lumping Rothwell and Max Aarons in with a string of previous failures, from Ben Davies to Kieran Dowell.

The jump to playing in the pressurised environment at Ibrox has been too much for far too many in recent times, with Rothwell, in particular, just the latest to have looked out of his depth in Glasgow.

Thankfully, for all concerned, this miserable spell is likely to be at an end sooner rather than later, with Football Insider reporting that he is likely to have played his last game for the club.

Unsurprisingly, the report suggests that Rothwell himself is ‘very keen’ to move on, with a welcome return to the Championship seemingly the most likely destination, amid notable interest from Sheffield United.

The one-time Manchester United academy man has twice been promoted with the Saints and Leeds United in recent years, ensuring he could be a valuable pick-up for Chris Wilder’s improving outfit.

As for Rohl and co, the club may well just be thankful that there is a market for their peripheral asset, ensuring the Gers can quickly cut their losses and move on.

Perhaps, that is a methodology that needs to be repeated heading into January, with the Premiership giants potentially able to capitalise on interest in their struggling stars.

Rangers can now cash in on struggling Ibrox flop

It isn’t a particularly good look for a player like Rothwell to be moving on so swiftly, after signing a relatively long-term deal, although considering the club’s woes both domestically and in Europe, there is little time for patience nor gradual improvement.

The 2022 Europa League finalists need to emerge as a truly competitive outfit once again, hence why no decision should be off the table, including cashing in on other recent summer purchases.

Of course, after splashing out £8m on the likes of Youssef Chermiti – a player who has scored just once since – funds are likely to be at a premium in the New Year, ensuring it might be a case of selling before buying for Rohl and co.

If that is to be the case, then the Gers could pounce on reported interest in ex-Sheffield Wednesday man, Djeidi Gassama, with reports from last week indicating that LaLiga side Villarreal are exploring a deal for the 22-year-old.

In the view of analyst Kai Watson, those at Ibrox should make the call to sell the young Frenchman if a bid does arrive, with the winger described as looking like a “ghost” since initially impressing in the Champions League qualifiers.

Indeed, a player who has “done nothing” since that four-goal burst in July and August, in the view of Watson, has hardly kicked on after reuniting with former boss Rohl, scoring just once since the 36-year-old took charge.

Denied a second by VAR in Monday’s win over Hibernian, Gassama – who has also failed to register an assist since the change in the dugout – found himself behind young Findlay Curtis for the meeting with the Edinburgh side, with Rohl also blessed with Mikey Moore to call upon on that left flank.

From being the bright note of Martin’s tenure, the forward’s impact has desperately dwindled since then, having also put in a particularly poor performance in last week’s defeat to Ferencvaros.

Rohl may have loyalties to him, following their prior relationship at Hillsborough, but if it means reinvesting funds to improve the squad in other departments, then ruthlessly cashing in might have to be the course of action in January.

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By
Dan Emery