Rumour-Season In Full Swing

We are only 5 days into the month of January, usually the time to work off those festive treats or plan out some new year resolutions, but for football clubs the season of wheeling and dealing begins now. It’s a crucial time of the year, mid-season when the strengths and weaknesses of clubs are normally identified by now, managers alike up and down the country are scouring their collection of phone numbers and DVDs in order to find that ‘gem’ that could win a league championship, qualify for Europe or safety from relegation.

At Ibrox, the phone will be ringing unusually more than previous years. In financial difficulties, Rangers could be forced to sell one or two of their big stars this month, without bringing anybody in to replace them. Arrivals at Ibrox will be no more than 1 for certain in my opinion. Stuart Holden, a S-born American International who played his football for Houston Dynamo in MLS before his contract expired this month, has been linked with a move to Glasgow with the midfielder fitting the budget of Rangers. Nicky Weaver is another name that has been mentioned with a move to Glasgow from Dundee but for sure that will only happen if either Allan McGregor or Neil Alexander is sold.

Mendes is a fans favourite and would be a loss

Pedro Mendes was the centre of rumour-town today with a circulating rumour linking him with a move to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon. The playmaker who is currently sidelined with an injury, but should return in the next month, made his name with FC Porto under Jose Mourinho as a tidy, fluent playmaker who went on to the win the Champions League for Porto. Mendes, in his thirties, is probably one of the more likely players to move from Ibrox after being replaced very well by Steven Davis and Lee McCulloch in midfield. The man who scored the wonder-goal against Celtic last season could be interested but Rangers would command a fee of around £2m.

Boyd Enjoying His Time At Ibrox

Goal machine Kris Boyd is another player who is constantly linked with a move away from Ibrox. The all-time top scorer in the SPL has been recently linked with a move to Gordon Strachan’s Middlesbrough but with Martin Bain hoping to begin contract talks with Boyd today, Strachan will need to move quickly in order to get the life-long Rangers supporter who has insisted on many occasions he wants to remain in Glasgow. Boyd’s current deal expires in the summer and Boro, along with a number of other clubs could prize him away on the cheap.

With the side across the city being linked with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane, its a good-time for Rangers supporters as they won’t be drawn into the speculation over who’s in and who’s out at Ibrox, whats for sure, is that the blue-side of Glasgow will be chuckling to themselves after the rumours of Keane and Pavlyuchenko to Celtic continue.