Rangers will be heading into the summer transfer window knowing that another trophyless season gives Nils Koppen no margin for error.
New players are needed throughout a Rangers squad that has holes all over it and areas where upgrades are desperately needed.
Lyall Cameron has signed on a pre-contract agreement and will add depth to midfield, however, there still needs to be a lot of work done to the engine room.
Cameron will need to improve on his current levels too if he is to make an impact but Barry Ferguson has backed the signing already.
A change of shape by the interim Rangers manager has highlighted this even more with little outside of the recent starting three with Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes likely to be sold as soon as the window opens.
The San Francisco 49ers takeover timeline could see a deal completed before the end of the season with transfer guarantees potentially helping a rebuild but Bosman bargains will still be the lowest risk way for Rangers to recruit.
Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Rangers have green light to make Dujan Ljubicic move
One such player is Dejan Ljubicic, a player who has faced and scored against the Ibrox outfit in the past and was linked under Steven Gerrard’s management.
A 6ft 2inch tall midfielder, capable of playing almost anywhere down the spine, would be a valuable addition to a team that has been accused of having a soft centre.
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At 26-years old, and with experience in the Bundesliga and international football, the Austrian would be a solid acquisition.
Good with the ball at his feet, with a keen eye for a pass and a shot a goal, athletic and versatile, there is a lot to like about a player who is just as comfortable at centre-half as he is on the right-wing.
How San Francisco 49ers takeover could help Ljubicic deal
The powerhouse midfielder was close to joining Leeds United last summer with the Premier League hopefuls said to have bid £3.3m for Ljubicic.
It was knocked back by Koln and, despite wanting to move on, the former Rapid Vienna academy product stayed put.
One of the main benefits of a partnership with the 49ers Enterprises group will be access to their data models and analysis and, if they passed Ljubicic as being good enough last year, he should also be good enough for Rangers.
On a free transfer, Koppen could add the sort of quality and depth that will be needed from day one next season, if a repeat of the slow start of 2024/25 is to be avoided.