Rangers manager Danny Rohl has given the distinct impression that it’s the final third of the pitch he’s looking towards strengthening as the clock ticks down to the January window having the curtains pulled across it on Monday night.
You can’t help but feel, though, that his defence still needs toughening up ahead of these closing months of a campaign that might still deliver a title that no one in their right mind could have seen coming when the Ibrox club were taken apart at Hearts just over a month ago.
All the focus right now is on difficult negotiations with German side Hansa Rostock over striker Ryan Naderi and the option of a loan deal for Southampton’s Cameron Archer.
Didn’t the nature of the goals conceded in the midweek 3-1 Europa League loss to FC Porto reconfirm that the rearguard still needs a fair bit of work as well, though?
Tuur Rommens has arrived at left-back and will surely work his way into the starting line-up when fit, but there are evident issues elsewhere along the backline.
Danny Rohl is looking to sign attackers but the Rangers defence looks less than convincing
Nasser Djiga did not impress in Rangers’ 3-1 Europa League loss to Porto
Manny Fernandez is an attacking threat but also makes mistakes in defence
What about Nasser Djiga’s attempts to prevent Porto’s equaliser? Captain James Tavernier is now making a habit of being caught out on the really big occasions, but Max Aarons has already shown he cannot be trusted at right-back and Dujon Sterling, sadly, cannot stay fit.
Manny Fernandez, of course, has supposedly turned from bombscare to Bundesliga target on the back of scoring a few goals from set-pieces, but sticking one into his own net in Portugal really ought to remind everyone to take the hype with a pinch of salt.
That Rangers needed quality throughout the park ahead of this window was unquestionably true. Yes, there’s only so much money available. Maybe Rohl feels attack is the best form of defence and that potential gamechangers now have to be the priority over guys who will keep the door bolted at the back – with on-loan Derek Cornelius surely moving closer to fitness after undergoing surgery in November.
The way this season is going, the upcoming games against Hearts and Celtic are going to be momentous affairs. There are countless other sides capable of causing problems as well.
Rangers will come under serious pressure in many of these matches. It’s just hard not to think a big, no-nonsense centre-half and maybe even a solid right-back might have been an idea to help get them through it.
