Summary
- Russell Martin has become the permanent Rangers manager, replacing Philippe Clement.
- New owners the 49ers Enterprises look set to back Martin in the transfer market as Rangers aim to dethrone Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
- Martin may reunite with former player Joe Aribo and target additions in attack.
Rangers finally have new owners, with the 49ers Enterprises completing a takeover, and the search for a new Ibrox manager is also finalised, with Russell Martin landing the permanent job.
Now, attention can turn to the transfer window, with the 49ers and Martin looking to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign.
The Gers have lifted just one league title win in 12 years, something Martin will be aiming to change, and to do so, may need to be active in the window.
A deal to sign Lyall Cameron from Dundee was agreed earlier in the year, but who else could join the midfielder in Glasgow?
Related
The dream XI Martin could build at Rangers: Vardy and £15m duo all sign
Now that Rangers have officially appointed Russell Martin as their new manager, we assess the dream lineup the new boss could build at Ibrox.
Well, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted four more signings Rangers could make this summer ahead of Martin’s first season at Ibrox.
AI predicts 4 players Rangers will sign this summer
1
Almamy Toure
Free agent
Starting off with a cut-price transfer for a versatile defender, Rangers have been linked with a move to sign Almamy Toure when he leaves FC Kaiserslautern this summer.
A Mali international who is primarily a centre-back, Toure could replace Leon Balogun who is leaving Ibrox when his deal runs out and a transfer was thought to be advancing last month.
Toure, who actually played for Eintracht Frankfurt against Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final, can also provide cover at right-back and Grok say that his ‘experience in European leagues aligns with Rangers’ need for reliable depth’.
2
Jamie Vardy
Free agent
Another free transfer Rangers have been backed to make by Grok is Jamie Vardy. The experienced forward announced he will leave Leicester City towards the end of the Premier League season and the Scottish giants have been linked with a move.
|
Jamie Vardy |
Goals scored |
|---|---|
|
Leicester City |
200 |
|
Fleetwood Town |
34 |
|
Halifax Town |
3 |
|
England |
7 |
The English striker picked up a whopping £140,000-a-week at the King Power Stadium, but Rangers have been weighing up making an offer for the 38-year-old. However, Grok also adds his ‘age and wage demands could be a hurdle’.
3
Joe Aribo
Southampton
A player who both Rangers fans and Martin knows well is Joe Aribo, with Grok feeling the new Gers boss may look to reunite with a former player at Ibrox.
Sold to the Saints for an initial £6m, Grok say Aribo ‘could return for a second stint, bringing versatility and familiarity.’
Since moving to the south coast in 2022, the Nigeria international has gone on to make more than 100 appearances for Southampton but is set to be out of contract in 2026. And, with the Saints suffering relegation, a move back to Rangers may appeal to the versatile central midfielder.
4
Yusuf Kabadayi
FC Augsburg
Finally, Rangers have been predicted to sign Yusuf Kabadayi, a player they were in for in 2024. There were claims the Gers were in pole position to sign the 21-year-old forward 12 months ago, however, he ended up moving to FC Augsburg instead.
Kabadayi would make just five Bundesliga appearances in 24/25 due to a serious knee injury, and as he’s under contract until 2028, a move does feel unlikely.
However, Grok say that Kabadayi’s ‘youth and potential fit Martin’s preference for dynamic, developing players’, although it could be putting two and two together from last year’s transfer rumour mill.
